Simple Dairy-Free Pesto Recipe

A bowl of green pesto is surrounded by pine nuts, olive oil, basil leaves, a half lemon, nutritional yeast, and a small copper spoon with salt, all on a wooden surface.

5 from 2 votes

This easy Dairy-Free Pesto recipe will become one of your favorite sauces to whip up! With fresh basil, garlic, and a touch of lemon, this dairy-free twist is just as creamy and delicious as classic pesto but without any cheese. Toss it over pasta, drizzle it on roasted veggies, or use it as a dip – this versatile pesto comes together in just minutes!

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Dairy Free, Gluten Free

Cuisine: American, Italian

Servings:

Calories: 109kcal

Author: Nadia

Equipment

Food Processor

Ingredients

3 cups Basil
⅓ cup Pine Nuts toasted
3 cloves Garlic
¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tablespoon Nutritional Yeast
2-4 tablespoon Lemon Juice
½ teaspoon Sea Salt

Instructions

Toast pine nuts in a skillet over low heat for 2-3 minutes or until slightly toasted.
Place basil, toasted pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, nutritional yeast, 2 tablespoon lemon juice and sea salt all into a food processor and blend on high speed until a paste forms.
Taste and adjust flavors as needed. If you need to thin it out more, simply add a bit more olive oil. You can adjust the salt and lemon juice to your liking throughout this part of the process.

Notes

Expert Tips And Notes

Use High-Quality Basil: Basil is the main ingredient in this recipe, so you need to use super fresh, organic, high-quality basil. The basil should have a strong fresh smell and have bright green leaves.
Avoid Over Blending: You want to blend just until everything is combined and smooth. Over-blending can make the pesto slightly bitter.

Nutrition