Quick and Easy Vegan Pesto Recipe

Pesto is a flavorful Italian sauce made from crushed fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan cheese, and olive oil. Its name comes from the Italian word pestare, which means to pound or crush. (In Italy, pesto is traditionally made using a mortar and pestle.) Vegan pesto is a dairy-free pounded sauce that omits the parmesan cheese in favor of ingredients like nutritional yeast or vegan cheese.

Part of the fun of making homemade pesto is experimenting with add-ins and substitutions to create your best vegan pesto. These are just a few options for transforming classic pesto.

1. 1. Sunflower seed pesto: You can easily adapt basil pesto for a nut-free diet by replacing the pine nuts with sunflower seeds or raw pumpkin seeds.
2. 2. Sweet pesto: For a sticky sweetness try adding agave syrup, maple syrup, or dates to your pesto. Sweet pesto is delicious drizzled on pizzas or roasted vegetables, like zucchini or carrots.
3. 3. Kale pesto: Pesto is a fun way to use up greens like kale and arugula. For dark leafy greens like kale or chard, blanch the greens before using in pesto—this keeps the sauce bright green and tames the bitterness. Tender greens like arugula and baby spinach, and fresh herbs like cilantro and parsley, do not need to be blanched before being added to pesto.
4. 4. Sun-dried tomato pesto: To make this red pesto, replace basil with sun-dried tomatoes. Red pesto is higher in vitamin C than traditional pesto and is typically served with crackers, sandwiches, and pasta.
5. 5. Cashew pesto: To recreate the cheesy flavor of parmesan without nutritional yeast or vegan parm, try using cashews or macadamia nuts in place of the pine nuts. These varieties are higher in fat and have a naturally creamy flavor and texture.
6. 6. Spicy pesto: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to your vegan pesto for a kick. Spicy pesto is ideal for vegan pesto pasta and pizza.
7. 7. Miso pesto: Miso is a Japanese condiment made from fermented soybeans. Creamy and full of umami flavor, it's a great substitution for both the cheese and pine nuts in traditional pesto.

Don’t limit yourself to pesto pasta. Here are just a few ways to enjoy dairy-free pesto.

1. 1. Bruschetta: Spread vegan basil pesto on toasted bread and top with halved cherry tomatoes for an easy vegan appetizer.
2. 2. Sandwiches: Pestos are a great condiment for sandwiches and plant-based burgers. Try spreading pesto on sliced focaccia or ciabatta and topping with roasted veggies and arugula for a delightful vegan sandwich.
3. 3. Pasta: Pesto transforms plain pasta into a delicious main dish. It works equally well on noodles and filled pasta like ravioli and tortellini. For a gluten-free alternative, try quinoa- or chickpea-based pasta. Try mixing a little starchy pasta water with the pesto to make a thinner pasta sauce.
4. 4. Salads and side dishes: Loosen your pesto with a little water or olive oil to make a sauce that’s perfect for drizzling over roasted veggies or salad greens. To make a quick salad dressing, whisk pesto with a little apple cider vinegar.
5. 5. Pizzas: Try adding a drizzle or dollop of pesto sauce onto your favorite pizzas, or use pesto as the pizza sauce. Pesto goes especially well with pizza topped with potatoes, corn, or zucchini.