Easy Vegan Walnut Pesto with Basil Recipe
This Easy Vegan Walnut Pesto with Basil is a delicious, dairy-free sauce perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or as a dip. Made from fresh basil, crunchy walnuts, and flavorful avocado oil, it’s a simple and healthy alternative to traditional pesto, capturing vibrant flavors with a creamy texture without any animal products.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: About 1 cup
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Vegan Walnut Pesto Ingredients
- 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup raw walnuts
- 1/2 cup avocado oil (or olive oil)
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (more or less to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (more or less to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Gather all ingredients including fresh basil, raw walnuts, avocado oil, chopped garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, and ground black pepper.
- Add to Blender or Food Processor: Place the basil leaves, walnuts, avocado oil, chopped garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, and pepper into a food processor or a high-speed blender.
- Blend Until Smooth: Blend the mixture until you achieve a smooth, creamy pesto texture. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed to ensure everything is well combined.
Notes
- This recipe yields just over one cup of pesto, enough for multiple servings.
- Nutritional values are estimated and can vary based on ingredient brands and measurements.
- Store leftover pesto in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 7 days to maintain freshness.
