Name: Pesto for Everything
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups Fresh Basil Leaves, Packed; ½ cup Raw Cashews (or sunflower seeds for nut-free option); ¼ cup Nutritional Yeast; 2 cloves Garlic (2-3 cloves); 1 Lemon Zest (of 1 Lemon); 2 tbsp Juice of Lemon (about 1 lemon); ½ tsp Salt (or to taste); ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (add more if thinner consistency is desired); 2 tbsp Water (for blending ease 2-4 Tbsp); ½ tsp Ground Black Pepper; ¼ tsp Chili Flakes (optional, for a touch of heat)

AuthorRachelle Johnson

Rating0.0DifficultyBeginner

This vibrant vegan pesto is your new go-to for everything—pasta, pizza, wraps, flatbreads, and more. Made with fresh basil, cashews, garlic, lemon, and nutritional yeast, it's creamy, zesty, and completely dairy-free. Quick to whip up in just 10 minutes, it’s meal-prep friendly, freezer-safe, and endlessly versatile. Ideal for plant-based meals bursting with flavor.

Yields8 Servings

Prep Time10 minsTotal Time10 mins

Main Base

2 cups Fresh Basil Leaves, Packed

½ cup Raw Cashews (or sunflower seeds for nut-free option)

¼ cup Nutritional Yeast

2 cloves Garlic (2-3 cloves)

1 Lemon Zest (of 1 Lemon)

2 tbsp Juice of Lemon (about 1 lemon)

½ tsp Salt (or to taste)

Liquids

½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (add more if thinner consistency is desired)

2 tbsp Water (for blending ease 2-4 Tbsp)

Flavor Enhancers

½ tsp Ground Black Pepper

¼ tsp Chili Flakes (optional, for a touch of heat)

Prep Ingredients: Soak cashews in hot water for 5–10 minutes if not using a high-speed blender. Drain before using.

Blend Base: In a food processor or high-speed blender, combine basil, cashews, nutritional yeast, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Add Liquids: Begin blending while slowly streaming in olive oil. Scrape down sides as needed. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time to reach your desired consistency.

Taste & Adjust: Taste and adjust seasoning—more salt, lemon juice, or chili flakes as desired.

Serve or Store: Use immediately or transfer to an airtight jar and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Notes

Nut-Free Option: Substitute sunflower seeds for cashews.
Make it Creamier: Add 1 tbsp tahini for extra richness.
Meal Prep Tip: Freeze in ice cube trays, then store cubes in a zip-top bag for easy single-use portions.
Oil-Free Option: Substitute olive oil with aquafaba or more water for a lighter version.

Serving Suggestions

Toss with warm pasta or drizzle over gnocchi.
Spread on pizza crust before baking or swirl into marinara after.
Use as a spread in wraps or layered on flatbreads with grilled veggies.
Dollop onto grain bowls or use as a sandwich condiment.

Ingredients

Main Base

2 cups Fresh Basil Leaves, Packed

½ cup Raw Cashews (or sunflower seeds for nut-free option)

¼ cup Nutritional Yeast

2 cloves Garlic (2-3 cloves)

1 Lemon Zest (of 1 Lemon)

2 tbsp Juice of Lemon (about 1 lemon)

½ tsp Salt (or to taste)

Liquids

½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (add more if thinner consistency is desired)

2 tbsp Water (for blending ease 2-4 Tbsp)

Flavor Enhancers

½ tsp Ground Black Pepper

¼ tsp Chili Flakes (optional, for a touch of heat)

Directions

Prep Ingredients: Soak cashews in hot water for 5–10 minutes if not using a high-speed blender. Drain before using.

Blend Base: In a food processor or high-speed blender, combine basil, cashews, nutritional yeast, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Add Liquids: Begin blending while slowly streaming in olive oil. Scrape down sides as needed. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time to reach your desired consistency.

Taste & Adjust: Taste and adjust seasoning—more salt, lemon juice, or chili flakes as desired.

Serve or Store: Use immediately or transfer to an airtight jar and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Notes

Nut-Free Option: Substitute sunflower seeds for cashews.
Make it Creamier: Add 1 tbsp tahini for extra richness.
Meal Prep Tip: Freeze in ice cube trays, then store cubes in a zip-top bag for easy single-use portions.
Oil-Free Option: Substitute olive oil with aquafaba or more water for a lighter version.

Serving Suggestions

Toss with warm pasta or drizzle over gnocchi.
Spread on pizza crust before baking or swirl into marinara after.
Use as a spread in wraps or layered on flatbreads with grilled veggies.
Dollop onto grain bowls or use as a sandwich condiment.

Pesto for Everything

Ingredients Directions

Serving Suggestions

Ingredients

Rachelle Johnson

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Login

Register