The easiest vegan pesto recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan pesto made of? ›

The base is fresh basil, pine nuts, and garlic with a splash of lemon juice for acidity and brightness. For that cheesy color and flavor, I rely on nutritional yeast, which is a man-made yeast that can be high in B12 (depending on the brand).

Traditional pesto is a blend of fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, extra-virgin olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. With a food processor, it comes together in just a few steps: Pulse the nuts, lemon juice, and garlic in the food processor until they're finely chopped. Add the basil and pulse again.

For funk: use nutritional yeast

As a vegan ingredient darling and the prototypical cheese flavor alternative, nutritional yeast is a classic Parmesan substitute when making a dairy-free pesto.

Almonds. My personal favorite, almonds make an excellent substitute for pine nuts in pesto because of their mild, nutty flavor. I like to buy sliced, raw almonds and toast them myself in a pan on medium-low heat. Toasting almonds gives them a depth of flavor that makes just about any dish taste incredible.

The reason is because classic basil pesto contains pecorino and Parmigiano-Reggiano, which are both made from milk curdled in animal rennet. That means that most of the pesto sauces you see on supermarket shelves are not vegetarian.

Most pesto is not considered vegan for the sole reason that basic recipes call for some kind of hard cheese like Parmesan or pecorino, which is not suitable for vegans. Some authentic Parmesan is even made using rennet, an enzyme found in the lining of a goat or calf's stomach.

Sadly, classic basil pesto is not vegan because it contains Parmesan and Pecorino, which are both cheeses made from dairy. However, there are plenty of vegan pesto sauces available, many of which use nutritional yeast to replicate the taste of cheese.

As is the case with everything we buy from supermarkets, economies of scale and the quality and quantity of ingredients explain how they can sell products, including pesto, unfathomably cheaply. The process of making pesto on a commercial scale isn't too dissimilar from how you'd knock up a small batch at home.

The most common reason for pesto tasting bitter is that the olive oil is past its best and has started to turn rancid. If the pesto has been made in a food processor or blender, there's also the possibility that it has turned bitter from the crude, sheering action of the blades.

Most pesto recipes call for Parmesan cheese; we often use Romano which has a stronger flavor. Basil pesto recipes often call for pine nuts, but you can easily substitute walnuts.

What pasta is best for pesto? ›

Pesto Sauce

This fresh and fragrant pasta sauce is served uncooked, so choose a pasta shape that won't overwhelm it. Similar to oil-based sauces, pesto is served best with longer cuts of pasta, like the corkscrew shape of Fusilli. Pesto works best with Bucatini, Capellini, thinner Spaghettini, and Fettuccine.

Being vegetarian, it's quite a good substitute for parmesan when a vegetarian option is needed. Old Winchester is a washed curd cheese and brine washed after pressing.

FAQ: How Long Does Homemade Pesto Last? You can store this basil pesto in a jar or sealable container, then tightly seal and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2–3 months. Let it thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Cashew for their creamy texture, and almonds for their flavour.

Because its ingredients include olive oil, nuts, and cheese, pesto can be high in calories and fat. However, the fat is primarily unsaturated and may have heart health benefits. Pesto is also full of antioxidants that can help protect your cells from damage.

Ingredients: Basil (52%), sunflower oil, CASHEW NUTS, rice syrup, potato flakes, olive oil, salt, acidity regulator: lactic acid, natural flavouring, pine nuts, spices. MAY ALSO CONTAIN OTHER NUTS AND PEANUT TRACES SO NOT SUITABLE FOR NUT AND PEANUT ALLERGY SUFFERERS.

Traditional pesto is not vegan; the recipe contains Parmesan cheese, which is not suitable for vegans. There are a number of vegan pesto alternatives available, though, so you can enjoy the taste without the non-vegan traditional ingredients!