Best Vegan Pesto

This simple vegan pesto is bright, creamy, and umami-rich. It makes a flavor-packed addition to pasta, pizza, and more. All you need is 5 ingredients and 10 minutes!

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Course Sauce

Cuisine Gluten-Free, Italian, Vegan

Servings 10 servings

Calories 85 kcal

Equipment

High speed blender or food processor
Spatula

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender or food processor, except the olive oil. Blend on medium until a paste has formed, then slowly pour in the oil.
Blend on medium-high for another 1-2 minutes, or until you reach your desired consistency. Make sure to stop and scrape down the sides as needed.
Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking — lemon juice for tang, vegan parmesan for cheesiness, garlic for punchiness, or salt to enhance the overall flavor. You can also add 1 tablespoon of water or vegetable broth at a time for a thinner consistency.
Serve over pasta, as a pizza sauce, on wraps, as a sandwich spread, or as part of a dip. Happy Eating!

Notes

Consistency: Pesto will thicken up as it sits in the fridge. If it needs to be thinned out, just add a little water or oil and stir until you reach your desired consistency.
Preserve: Once the pesto goes brown, it’s no longer viable. To ensure it lasts longer, add a layer of high-quality olive oil on top, which limits air exposure.
Use fresh ingredients: The quality of the ingredients really affects the overall flavor! Use extra-virgin olive oil, organic garlic cloves, and freshly-grown basil if possible.
Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.

Nutrition