Vegan Basil Pesto (Nut-Free)

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If you’ve been trying to find a shop-bought vegan pesto you might be feeling dismayed by the number of brands that include cheese. Fear not! My vegan basil pesto recipe is not only free of dairy products, it’s also suitable for those with nut allergies too!

Nothing beats the fresh and enticing flavors of a good pesto. The great news is that it’s really quick and simple to make your own at home – it all comes together in less than five minutes. Plus, the shop bought stuff just can’t come close to the flavors you can create yourself at home.

I’ve gone the traditional route and made this pesto with basil but feel free to mix it up with any of your favorite fresh herbs and seasonings. Cilantro, chives or parsley also lend unique flavors.

Parmesan is the cheese variety that’s commonly used in pesto recipes. To recreate the cheesy flavors, we sub parmesan for nutritional yeast and fresh lemon juice, which when combined, gives a mature cheesy taste.

If you don’t have a nut allergy, you can also try adding a small handful of nuts to the mixture. Pine Nuts are most commonly used in pesto but can be a little expensive.

Other nuts that work well in pesto include walnuts, hazelnuts or Brazil nuts – each giving a different and subtle taste depending on the other ingredients you combine them with.

Interested in making your own fresh vegan pasta to go with this Vegan Basil Pesto? Click here for my tried and tested recipe.

But pesto isn’t just for pasta! Try using your fresh pesto as a condiment on sandwiches or mixed with some vegan mayonnaise as a dressing for potato salad!

Remember to let me know in the comments section below what you think of this recipe and any tips you have for your own favorite fresh pestos.