Sometimes, you want pasta without tomato all over it.
Am I the only one who feels like this? There are days when I want my big bowl of carbs, but I want tomatoes to stay the hell away from it
For most, the next best option after tomato-based sauces is macaroni and cheese. But for vegans, easy and quick dairy-free mac and cheese can be hard to whip up when the craving hits. (But there are options!)
This is where pesto comes in.
Pesto is great for several reasons. For one, it’s comforting, light, and satisfying, while being surprisingly healthy and quick to make. Wait… was that more than just one reason? Still, the list goes on. Pesto is different than pomodoro, arrabiata, rosa, puttanesca, or other tomato sauces. It’s super customizable (although my favorite will always be the classic basil and pine nut combination). And it’s always delicious.
Unfortunately for vegans, most store-packaged pesto is made with parmesan or other cheese. Luckily, it’s almost as easy to make at home as it is to buy.
Packing a punch with garlic and lemon, this simple dairy-free pesto doesn’t lack any flavor. Although I’ve gone for basil and pine nuts, you can try spinach in place of basil, and almonds, walnuts, or even cashews in place of pine nuts. Each modification lends a special twist to the classic sauce.
Pesto can go on anything- sandwiches, salads, dressings, soups, and of course pasta. Come back next week to see a fun way to add pesto to a summer picnic classic, just in time for the 4th of July!
Bright green and vibrantly flavored, this pesto makes it feel like summer.
Enjoy!
- 2 cups tightly packed basil, washed and trimmed
- ⅓ cup pine nuts
- ½ cup olive oil
- 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
- juice of half a lemon
- salt and pepper to taste
- Combine basil, pine nuts, and garlic in a food processor and pulse until finely ground
- Stream in olive oil and continue to pulse until smooth
- Add salt, pepper, and lemon and pulse until well combined. Taste, and re-season if necessary.
• If you don’t have pine nuts, you can sub walnuts or even almonds
• If your food processor doesn’t have a stream feature for liquids, add olive oil in two installments
*Adaped from Food52
I almost always want pasta without tomato sauce! I’m a huge pesto fan (Alfredo and garlic oil sauces too) so whenever I go out for Italian, I usually skip the red sauces. Love how easy this pesto is. Definitely trying this out!
Same!! People think I’m strange for not wanting tomato all over my food, but especially in the summer, it can get very heavy. Thanks, Gayle!
I can’t imagine who first thought of combining these ingredients together to make this sauce (some Italian, obviously … probably a mama!) but I’m sure glad they did. I love pestos of all kinds, but you can’t go too far wrong with the classic version. Love your photos!
I’ve had that thought too, Helen! Pesto is soooo delicious. Thanks for commenting 🙂
Must be delicious!
ela h.
Thanks, Ela!
Haha! I’m so with you, sometimes red pasta sauce just doesn’t do it for me. This sounds lovely.
Right?! Thank you, Karen!
This looks so fresh and flavorful. I would love this spooned over some fresh veggies off the grill. : )
Sounds healthy and delicious, Crystal. Thanks!
I love pesto on almost everything – bread, rice, soup. Ahh I want some now! This looks beautiful!
I’m the same way, Ami! Thanks so much 🙂
I love Pesto :)! And I love the vegan one too :)! Do you know that you can even put it in the freezer? I did it and, you won’t believe me, but this morning I put it into the fridge because since last night I started craving pesto! ahahah! I’m gonna make pasta al pesto tonight :)!!!
Your pesto looks great! Just because I’m from Genova, where we are pretty good in making it 🙂 -we invented it!- I suggest you to try without lemon and pepper. Trust me: you’ll love it!!!
I freeze my pesto too! I find that it helps sometimes to add a layer of olive oil over the pesto. Looks like our pesto cravings are the same 🙂 I so totally trust your judgement and I will try it without next time (I add lemon into EVERYTHING so of course for me pesto is no exception normally). Thanks for commenting, Ema!
And you do it right :)! My mum has always add a layer of olive oil and few pinenuts on top :)! It helps to preserve the color brightness because otherwise if becomes blackish if it is in contact with air :)! And to make it brighter some chef put the blade into the freezer for few minutes before making pesto! Basil doesn’t like hot :)! Thank you for mosting sunch a nice recipe :*
And I’ll try your version with lemon :)! I’m curious now :P!
I always want pasta without tomato. Not a big marinara sauce gal. This pesto sounds awesome.
Thanks, Kathy! I’m the same 🙂
Pestos are my favorite! They’re so fresh and not as heavy as tomato sauces. Your pesto looks just perfect. 🙂
Thanks, Marcie! 🙂
How perfect does this pesto look?! Just between you and me, I secretly like pesto-covered pasta even more than tomato-topped. Soooo delish! 🙂
Pesto > tomato 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
it looks just as good as pesto with Parmesan and I am sure it is just as tasty 🙂
Thanks, Tandy! Vegans can also add a tablespoon or two of nutritional yeast for a cheesier flavor!
This looks awesome!! Pinned 🙂
Thanks so much, Chelsea!
What a GORGEOUS shot of this pesto in your food processor! I’ve never made pesto before, but this totally made my mouth water and now I’m craving it. 🙂
Kristi, you’ve got to make it! It’s so easy but delicious 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
I looooove pesto! On everything…caprese, pasta, salads, eggs…the options are endless!
Exactly! Thanks, Bri 🙂
Yum! Love the simplicity of this recipe. Letting the ingredients stand out on their own always makes for the yummiest food!
I totally agree, Allison! Thanks for commenting 🙂
I hate tomato all over my pasta. This would be great with pasta! I love how quick it is to whip up and how green it looks!
Glad to know I’m not alone 🙂 I love simplicity too. Thanks!
Looks fabulous! I just wish pine nuts didn’t cost an arm and a leg! Walnuts are a pretty good substitution though!
Yeah, I sometimes do half and half. A bag of pignolis goes for around $7 at Trader Joe’s and really lasts a while, though! Thanks, Annie 🙂
I’ve never had pesto with pasta and now I’m wondering why?! This looks delicious and I love how easy it is to make. Pinned!
You’ve never had pesto?!! You literally have to make it and soon 🙂
Ugh, this sound phenomenal! It would pair so well with grilled eggplant rounds or portobello mushrooms! 🙂
Ooh I love portobello mushrooms! Great idea 🙂
Love making homemade pesto in the summer! I’m the same as you, you can give me a bowl of pasta with pesto instead of boring old tomato pasta any day! 🙂 Looks divine, definitely got to try your recipe out!
Thanks so much, Jess!
Ah – I wish I had a good blender like you! Pesto is fantastic, and such a good pairing with pasta 🙂 This recipe sounds great! You have a lovely blog 🙂 x
Thanks, Jules, I love my food processor! I got it for my birthday (yeah, I’m the kind of person who asks for a food processor for her birthday…) and it was so worth it. It’s this one if you want to check it out. It’s small but affordable and very powerful. If you’re like me, and aren’t always cooking for a large crowd, it’s perfect 🙂
Wow, thank you so much Medha, and also for your kind words on my blog 😀
I am definitely usually only cooking for myself or me and a friend whenever I have dinner guests, and so that processor looks so good! Can you make nut-butter with it too, do you know? X
PS. I would totally ask for kitchen stuff for my birthday too, no shame in that – just a bit of an obsession, or a tasty hobby and passion as I prefer to call it 😉 x
I haven’t tried nut butters in it yet, although I’m sure I’ll make a post when I do. I’m pretty confident it could do small batches, though! 🙂
True that! I love pesto but, unfortunately, my husband doesn’t. Sometimes I make it anyways. Five minutes is hard to resist!!! I’ll try this next time the craving strikes!
Thanks, Lindsey! 🙂
I love how green it looks. Great recipe 🙂
Thanks, Olivia! 🙂