This super simple vegan sun-dried tomato pesto recipe uses walnuts, fresh basil, shallots, loads of garlic, a touch of balsamic vinegar, nutritional yeast and more. It’s very flavorful, makes ~¾ cup.
Is sun-dried tomato pesto vegan? Pesto usually has a hard cheese in it, like parmesan or pecorino. So, when in doubt, read the label, ask questions or better yet, make your own!
Two things…
- ・Don’t bother taking the leaves off the fresh basil or parsley. Use the stems and all. They will break down in the blender.
- ・A little balsamic vinegar goes a long way. Start with ½ tsp. Taste it. If it needs more, add a very small amount at a time.
So, how can you use vegan sun-dried tomato pesto?
- ・Stirred into pasta, gnocchi, or risotto.
- ・Add a bit to some almond ricotta and make a tasty filling for vegan tortellini.
- ・Spread a thin layer over pizza crust or flatbread, and then, add your favorite toppings.
- ・Spread a thin layer over a baguette, sprinkle some vegan cheese over it, and then, broil it in the oven.
If you enjoy this, you may also enjoy UVK recipes, like Vegan Basil Pesto, Gnocchi with Pesto and Grilled Eggplant, Zucchini and Cherry Tomatoes, Kale Pesto Sandwich with Seitan and Apples, Sun-Dried Tomato Chickpea Burgers, Vegan Sunflower Pesto Pasta Salad and more.
Let’s get to it! 💚
Vegan Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
⅓ cup julienned sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil
2 Tbsp of the oil from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes
4 large peeled garlic cloves
1 shallot, finely chopped (OR ~1 Tbsp finely chopped shallot)
¼ cup raw walnut halves and pieces
⅓ cup fresh basil
¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley
¼ cup olive oil
1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
½ tsp balsamic vinegar
½-1 tsp salt
Black pepper, to taste
- 1. In a small skillet, add 2 Tbsp of oil from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes and the garlic cloves.
- 2. Over high heat, wait for the oil to sizzle. As it sizzles, move the garlic around for about 30 seconds. Then, remove the skillet from heat and stir in the shallot. Set aside, and allow to cool.
3. In a high speed blender, add the sun-dried tomatoes, walnuts, basil, parsley, nutritional yeast, balsamic vinegar, salt, and black pepper. Then, add the contents of the small skillet (the garlic, shallots and 2 Tbsp of oil).
4. Pulse until everything begins to break down. Then, add the olive oil and continue pulsing. I like it with some recognizable bits.
5. Taste the vegan sun-dried tomato walnut pesto, and make any adjustments to the flavor (more balsamic? more salt? more nutritional yeast?). Prefer it thinner? Add more olive oil. Use in your favorite recipes (see suggestions in the notes above).
