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Vegan Basil Pesto


This is an quick vegan pesto recipe with fresh basil, oregano, parsley and more. You can use it as a pasta sauce, a pizza sauce, on grilled vegetables with gnocchi, on burgers and more! It yields ~1 cup. For the best flavor, make it right before you want to use it.

A few things…

  • ・Sautéing whole garlic cloves in the olive oil before adding it to the blender accomplishes two things. First, it cooks the garlic through a bit, and takes some of the edge off of it. And second, it helps infuse the olive oil with some of the garlic, as well.
  • ・No need to take the fresh basil or parsley leaves off the stems for the vegan pesto. Pack your measuring cup with stems and all. You’re going to pulverize those babies in the blender, so don’t worry about it.
  • ・With the fresh oregano, I would recommend ripping the leaves from the stem. Sometimes, oregano stems can be woody, which is less desirable for the overall texture. Use your judgement.

And then, let’s get blending, and start slapping this homemade vegan basil pesto sauce recipe on everything that needs a fresh Italian flavor fix!

Vegan basil pesto recipe
An easy vegan basil pesto sauce recipe with oregano and parsley
Vegan Pesto for Pasta
A vegan basil and oregano pesto for pasta or gnocchi. Check out this recipe for gnocchi with pesto sauce.

Vegan Basil Pesto

3 whole garlic cloves

1/4 cup olive oil

1 cup fresh basil, packed

3/4 cup flat leaf parsley, packed

1 1/2 Tbsp fresh oregano leaves

1/4 cup pine nuts

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1 Tbsp nutritional yeast

1/4 – 1/2 tsp salt (see note above)

Vegan Pesto Nutritional Yeast

1. First, you’ll flavor the oil for the vegan basil pesto. In a small skillet, add garlic cloves and olive oil. Set the heat to HIGH. When it just starts sizzling, turn heat down to low. Sauté the garlic in the olive oil until it is golden on all sides without burning or browning it (~3 minutes–stirring it around). Turn off the burner and set skillet aside to cool.

2. When garlic and olive oil has cooled a bit, add to a blender with all the rest of the ingredients listed above. Blend until smooth. Taste, and adjust flavor, if needed (salt? lemon juice?). Use this vegan basil pesto as a condiment, pasta sauce, pizza sauce, coating for veggies going on the grill, and more. Be creative!

Herb Pesto
A delicious vegan pesto with basil, oregano and parsley!
Delicious vegan basil pesto sauce for veggie burgers, like Italian White Bean Burgers
Vegan Pesto for Pizza
Slather flatbread or homemade pizza dough with vegan pesto, your favorite toppings, and vegan cheese. Bake it in the oven, and you’ve got a tasty meal!

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