Fresh and flavorful, this dairy-free, oil-free Vegan Spinach Walnut Pesto makes a delicious sauce for pasta or squash. Only 6 ingredients!
Traditional pesto recipes have cheese and oil as main ingredients, but as an oil-free vegan, I don't eat either of those ingredients. So, of course, I made my own delicious pesto. It has the taste and texture of traditional pesto but is wayyyy healthier.
This Vegan Spinach Walnut Pesto packs in tons of flavor. It's got amazing greens and one of the healthiest nuts with only 6 ingredients.
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Why I love this Vegan Spinach Walnut Pesto
- Plant-based & dairy-free - most pesto recipes call for parmesan cheese and some sort of oil to create a smooth paste. But you don't need either of those for a delicious pesto!
- Fresh and summery - basil is in season during the summer, and it's bright, minty, peppery flavor makes any dish light and zesty
- So quick and easy - it literally takes 5 minutes to make pesto. Once you have your pesto, you just need the time to cook your pasta. Aaaand, dinner is done!
- Dietary needs - besides being vegan and oil-free, this pesto is also naturally gluten-free and totally sugar-free
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Fresh Spinach: this provides most of the bulk for the pesto, a beautiful green color, and some plant-protein!
- Fresh Basil: the classic pesto ingredient, basil packs in the flavor.
- Walnuts: often pesto uses pine nuts, and while I have nothing against pine nuts, walnuts are my nuts of choice these days (and they're super good for you).
- Nutritional Yeast: flakes of yeast that give the pesto a cheesy flavor.
- Lemon Juice: for that bit of tang
- Salt
How to Make Vegan Spinach Walnut Pesto
Step 1. Make the pesto. Blend the spinach, basil, walnuts, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a food processor. You may need to scrape down the sides of the processor.
Step 2. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse well.
Step 3. Transfer the pasta to a bowl and toss with the pesto, stirring evenly to coat. Enjoy!
Expert Tips & FAQ
If you can't eat walnuts or other nuts, use an equivalent amount of sunflower seeds instead.
Use all spinach. It won't taste exactly the same, but a spinach pesto is still a delicious sauce for pasta.
Recipe Prayer
Jesus, thank you for fresh foods that feed us. We are grateful each day for the healthy foods you give us. Amen.
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📖 Recipe
Vegan Spinach Walnut Pesto
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Ounces Fresh Spinach about 1 ½ cups loosely packed
- ½ Ounce Fresh Basil about ½ cup loosely packed
- 1 Ounce Walnuts about ¼ cup
- 2 Tablespoons Nutritional Yeast
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- ¼ Teaspoon Pepper
- 8 Ounces Pasta of choice I used chickpea pasta
Instructions
- Make the pesto. Blend the spinach, basil, walnuts, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a food processor. You may need to scrape down the sides of the processor.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse well.
- Transfer the pasta to a bowl and toss with the pesto, stirring evenly to coat. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate.
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