Vegan Walnut and Basil Pesto
Vegan Walnut and Basil Pesto
Diet Category: Vegan • Vegetarian • Plant-Based • Dairy-Free • Gluten-Free* • High-Fibre • Whole-Food Plant-Based
*Check that your nutritional yeast is certified gluten-free if required.
Introduction
This easy Vegan Walnut & Basil Pesto is a fresh and flavourful plant-based alternative to traditional pesto, made without Parmesan or other dairy products. Combining fresh spinach and basil with creamy walnuts, green peas and savoury nutritional yeast creates a vibrant homemade pesto packed with wholesome plant ingredients.
Walnuts give this dairy-free pesto its rich, nutty texture, while peas add natural sweetness and help create a creamy consistency. Fresh basil provides the classic aromatic pesto flavour, and nutritional yeast adds a delicious savoury, slightly cheesy taste without using dairy.
Perfect for tossing through vegan pasta, spreading onto sourdough toast, adding to sandwiches and wraps, spooning over roasted vegetables or using as a dip, this simple spinach and walnut pesto is an easy way to add more leafy greens, nuts and legumes to everyday meals.
Benefits of the Main Ingredients
Walnuts
Walnuts provide plant-based protein, fibre and predominantly unsaturated fats. They're particularly notable for containing alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential plant-based omega-3 fatty acid. Walnuts also provide nutrients including magnesium, copper and manganese.
Spinach
Spinach is a nutrient-dense leafy green that provides folate, vitamin K, vitamin A precursors and vitamin C. It also contains iron, magnesium and naturally occurring carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin. Adding spinach to pesto is an easy way to incorporate more leafy greens into meals.
Fresh Basil
Fresh basil gives pesto its distinctive aromatic flavour while providing vitamin K and a variety of naturally occurring plant compounds. Its strong flavour means it can add plenty of freshness without requiring complicated seasonings.
Green Peas
Green peas provide fibre and plant-based protein alongside carbohydrates. They also contain nutrients including vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and several B vitamins. Their naturally sweet flavour and creamy texture work particularly well in a dairy-free pesto.
Nutritional Yeast
Nutritional yeast provides a savoury, slightly cheesy flavour that makes it a popular ingredient in vegan cooking. It naturally provides protein and several B vitamins, while fortified nutritional yeast may also provide vitamin B12, an especially important nutrient to consider in a vegan diet.