Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse till it is a blended and creamy.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
food processor
Notes
SubstitutionsBasil- In my option pesto isn't pesto without basil, but you can use baby spinach if you can't find fresh basil.Pine nuts- Pine nuts add such a nice nutty flavor to this healthy pesto recipe, but you can use walnuts, pistachios, or almonds.Avocado oil- You can substitute extra virgin olive oil or safflower oil.Nutritional yeast- To add a little cheesy flavor, you can add a tablespoon of nutritional yeast.Frequently asked questionsDoes pesto have dairy?Traditional pesto recipes have cheese in them. This pesto recipe doesn't have any dairy in it and still has that traditional pesto flavor.Can you buy dairy-free pesto?There are a few dairy-free pestos that you can buy at grocery stores, but making homemade dairy-free pesto is so easy and once you have fresh pesto you won't want to buy jarred pesto from your local grocery store again.What to serve withHere are some great ways to use your pesto.
Use it as a pasta sauce (pesto pasta is my favorite way to use this sauce).
Salad dressing. Add a little more oil for a thinner sauce that is perfect on salads.
On top of a steak
Tossed with roasted potatoes
Spread on toast or bread
Use a dip with pita chips
On top of eggs
Add it to pizza
StoringIf you have leftover pesto you can store it in an airtight container (wide-mouth pint mason jars are great for storing pesto) in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.If you grow basil and have a bunch to use, you can make a big batch of this pesto and freeze it for up to 3 months for later use. Pesto cubes are the easiest way to freeze pesto. Fill silicone ice cube trays with the pesto and freeze. Once the pesto is frozen, you can transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe container and use them when needed.