Dairy-free Pesto

Cheesy and flavorful despite being dairy-free.
#Pesto is a household fave of ours! Enjoyed every which way. As we moved across to being a #dairyfree house, it has been a process, which remains still, of finding new ways to enjoy our old favorites. And this recipe is a keeper for us! It’s so easy and tastes so incredibly delicious.
If you’re looking for a dairy-free dip, pasta sauce then check this plant based pesto out!

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What You Need:

• 2 cups packed fresh basil (large stems removed)
• 3 Tbsp pine nuts or walnuts (if nut-free, try sunflower seeds!)
• 3 large cloves garlic (peeled)
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 3-4 tbsp nutritional yeast 
• 1/4 tsp sea salt (plus more to taste)
• 2-3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil*
• 3-6 Tbsp water (plus more as needed)

What to Do:

1. To a food processor or small blender, add the basil, nuts, garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and sea salt and blend/mix on high until a loose paste forms.
2. Add olive oil a little at a time (streaming in while the machine is on if possible) and scrape down sides as needed. Then add 1 Tbsp (15 ml) water at a time until the desired consistency is reached - a thick but pourable sauce. (If avoiding oil altogether, sub the oil with vegetable broth or just use all water.)
3. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor, salt for overall flavor, nuts for nuttiness, garlic for bite / zing, or lemon juice for acidity.
4. Perfect for adding to sauces, dressings, breads, and more! My favorite recently has been adding it straight to zucchini or carrot noodles (see photo) for a beautiful, healthy side dish.
5. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 1 week. After that, pour into ice cube molds, freeze, and store up to 1 month or more.

minimalist baker 


Enjoy