
It’s no secret that I have a thing for pesto. Yet I didn’t have a recipe for my go-to version on the blog…until now.
The remedy is here! Presenting my 5-Minute Easy Vegan Pesto perfect for sauces, soups, salads, pasta, pizza, and more!

Origin of Pesto
Pesto is a sauce that is believed to have originated in the Liguria region of northwestern Italy. It’s thought that it may have evolved from a 13th century garlic-based sauce called aggiadda or from the tradition of using aromatic herbs in the Middle Ages.
The first written recipe for pesto was from Giovanni Battista Ratto in his 19th century work The Genoese cuisine. This recipe was a mix of garlic, basil, and cheese (source).
Our plant-based version skips the cheese, but is similarly packed with basil and full of flavor.
How to Make Vegan Pesto
This recipe requires just 5 minutes, 1 bowl, and 7 ingredients to make.
The base is fresh basil, pine nuts, and garlic with a splash of lemon juice for acidity and brightness.
For that cheesy color and flavor, I rely on nutritional yeast, which is a man-made yeast that can be high in B12 (depending on the brand).
Now, we have a paste, but to make it a sauce, I rely on a mix of extra virgin olive oil and water. If you’re trying to avoid oil, feel free to sub the EVOO for vegetable broth or water!


I hope you all love this pesto! It’s:
Creamy
Zesty
Cheesy
Garlicky
Healthy
& SO easy to make
I love adding pesto to things like white pasta sauce, breadsticks, salad dressings, sauces, and more! This recipe yields about 1 cup, and I’m always surprised how quickly I use it up throughout the week. It also freezes well in ice cube trays, so you can thaw and use a small amount whenever a recipe calls for pesto.
For my favorite pesto recipes, check out our Pesto Avocado Toast, Penne Pasta Salad, Smashed Potatoes with Garlic Pesto, Pea Pesto Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta, and Spaghetti Squash Pasta with Basil Pesto.
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!

Easy Vegan Pesto (5 minutes!)
Ingredients
- 2 cups packed fresh basil (large stems removed)
- 3 Tbsp pine nuts or walnuts (if nut-free, try sunflower seeds!)
- 3 large cloves garlic (peeled)
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 3-4 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/4 tsp sea salt (plus more to taste)
- 2-3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil*
- 3-6 Tbsp water (plus more as needed)
Instructions
- To a food processor or small blender, add the basil, nuts, garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and sea salt and blend/mix on high until a loose paste forms.
- Add olive oil a little at a time (streaming in while the machine is on if possible) and scrape down sides as needed. Then add 1 Tbsp (15 ml) water at a time until the desired consistency is reached – a thick but pourable sauce. (If avoiding oil altogether, sub the oil with vegetable broth or just use all water.)
- Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor, salt for overall flavor, nuts for nuttiness, garlic for bite / zing, or lemon juice for acidity.
- Perfect for adding to sauces, dressings, breads, and more! My favorite recently has been adding it straight to zucchini or carrot noodles (see photo) for a beautiful, healthy side dish.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 1 week. After that, pour into ice cube molds, freeze, and store up to 1 month or more.
Video
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with lesser amount of nutritional yeast.
*Recipe adapted from my Smashed Potatoes with Garlic Pesto.
*Recipe as originally written makes ~1 cup pesto.
Nivi says
Easiest and BEST vegan pesto ever! I used my Ninja Chopper to make this since my Vitamix is too big for the quantity of pesto I was making. Thanks for another amazing recipe, Dana!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Thank you for the lovely review, Nivi! xoxo
Dorothy says
Your site is always my first go-to when I’m looking for a recipe! Loved this one like all the other random recipes I’ve tried, as usual! Thank you! I added a couple broccoli stems from 2 broccoli heads into the mix!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Ooo, love that idea! Thanks for the great review, Dorothy. So glad you’ve enjoyed our recipes!
Julie Silver says
I am a terrible, terrible cook so I just don’t do it. I had to repot and trim my 2 basil plants (terrible Gardner too) and I thought the only reason I bought these 2 plants was to make pesto so I’m not throwing out the leaves, I am going to look for an easy vegan recipe. This was juar perfect. I had to add 6-8 T of h20 first in order to get my Vitamix to work but it tastes so great even though I have a terrible cold. I used heaping Tablespoons of walnuts and extra garlic and I am still in shock that I made something that tasted so good. Thank you for a great recipe.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Julie! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Amanda says
I was wondering if this can be made without nutritional yeast?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes! Feel free to omit it.
Amy says
My family loves this pesto, so simple to knock up as a midweek meal and goes with loads of different things. We’ve tried a few different recipes but this is the one we always come back to and recommend to friends.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you and your family enjoy it, Amy! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Mackenzie Bakewell says
This was so easy to make and so delicious. Thank you!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thank you for the lovely review, Mackenzie! xo
Sophia says
I’ve made this recipe several times and it’s very good, I recommend it. However, this time when I went to make it, I found that someone had used up all my fresh basil, so, as strange as this sounds, do you know how I could make it with dried basil instead?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Sophia, unfortunately we aren’t sure how to make it work with dried basil. This recipe would be the next best option, but it does have some basil in it. Hope that helps!
Sophia says
Okay, thank you very much. I will try this as I actually have kale in my fridge for a change. Thank you.
kc says
I triple this and make it monthly, use it on almost everything…I don’t use pine nuts, but use all other nuts /seeds…thank you so much for Great recipe
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! So glad you enjoy this recipe, KC!
Toya B. says
I’m currently doing the Daniel fast so I wanted a vegan alternative to trafitional pesto. I’m also omitting salt from my diet while I do the Daniel fast. So I made this and omitted the salt. It tastes amazing without the salt. I don’t think I’ll be adding salt in the future. I used a garlic infused Olive oil.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Wonderful! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Toya! Thank you for sharing!
Chris says
I wanted a pesto recipe to make me feel I was truly eating a healthy choice and this was the perfect recipe! I loved it. I prefer walnuts to the pine and did add additional water to get a saucier product. Thanks so much for sharing your creation;)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Chris!
Anne Marie says
How can I even express how much I love this recipe? It is mouth wateringly delicious, as well as compliant with all of my annoying dietary restrictions. I make double and triple batches because we devour it so quickly in our household. Am I obsessed? Most definitely! Thank you for sharing this delightful deliciousness with all of us. <3
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, we’re so glad it’s a winner in your household, Anne Marie! Thank you for sharing! xo
Monkey Mike says
Used a saucy version of this (extra water & “nacho” nutritional yeast) on Ezekiel sprouted grain tortillas for pizzas. Covered with a layer of quinoa and topped with veggies, tempeh and vegan cheese. Turned out amazing! We will be making this regularly!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sounds delish! Thanks so much for the great review, Mike!
Miriam Attard says
This was the best vegan pesto I’ve found so far! I used cashews for pinenuts & apple cider vinegar for lemon juice. Had it with fresh veggies and gnocchi.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum! Thanks so much for the great review and for sharing your modifications, Miriam!
Rachelle Maher says
Wow! Awesome recipe, the flavour is out of this world. I’ve never really come at pesto but that’s because I’ve never had it like this! Husband can’t eat pine nuts so I used cashews – amazing 🥰
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoyed this pesto, Rachelle! Thank you for sharing! xo
Kate says
I can’t believe how unbelievably good this recipe is! I’ve used it so far as a pizza sauce and on pasta, and both were delicious! So happy to have discovered a perfect vegan pesto. :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, we’re SO glad you enjoy it, Kate! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Jennifer says
This is my favourite pesto and so easy!! Thank you!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Jennifer! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Jenni says
Awesome basic recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Jenni! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Tracy says
Why did no one ever tell me for the first half century of my life, how amazingly delicious pesto is? This recipe is perfect–I do sometimes substitute nuts based on what I have, and I also learned to double it (works better in my food processor), but this on a gf English muffin topped with a garden tomato, is my favorite go-to meal!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Ha! We’re so glad you’ve now discovered and enjoy it =) Thank you for the lovely review, Tracy! xo
Chris Lynch says
This is delicious! I made mine with cashews instead of pinenuts and I can’t have nutritional yeast so I used miso paste. Absolutely delicious I’m eating it right now!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Wonderful! Love your modifications, Chris. Thank you for sharing! xo
Sally Wilen says
Used walnuts. Would prefer recipe have exact amounts instead of 3-4, etc. Made it a little confusing for a newbie. Tastes ok, but can hardly taste the basil – not sure if I did something wrong or what I would even do differently. My kids are chowing with some pita crackers though, so it’s decent :-D
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Sally! We so appreciate your feedback and your review. Glad it’s still being enjoyed!
Amy says
This is delicious! I was really craving a plant based pesto pizza so googled vegan pesto and came across your recipe. I had forgotten how good making pesto makes the kitchen smell so not only am I having my pesto pizza tonight but my little apartment smells heavenly.
Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
LOVE that smell and pesto pizza =) And SO glad you enjoyed the recipe, Amy! Thank you for sharing! xo
Jen says
I made this for my vegan friend and I like it better than the pesto I made for myself with cheese.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! That’s so great to hear, Jen! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Siri says
It’s so easy and absolutely delicious!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Siri! xoxo
Catherine says
My favorite pesto recipe! This is even better than non-vegan pesto. It has so much flavor, I could eat it by the spoonful! Thank you!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Catherine! xoxo
Terry Hibdon says
So similar to the recipe that I used for years before becoming vegan. The lemon juice adds a nice tang and helps to maintain the vibrant color of the pesto. I will add that if you cover your jar of pesto with a layer of olive oil, it will keep for several weeks in the fridge. Pull it out for a bit and then mix it all together and the flavors will have married fantastically. Salute.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Great tip! Thanks for sharing, Terry!
Neringa says
Thank you, it turned out really great! I used cashews, as I didn’t have any walnuts or sunflowers seeds available.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum! Great idea. Thanks so much for the lovely review, Neringa!
Fran says
I made one version of this oil free for my husband who loved it! I also used sunflower seeds. I spread this on sour dough pizza and it was spectacular. Thank you so much.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you both enjoyed it! Now we’re craving pizza =) Thank you for the lovely review, Fran! xo
Shelly says
I made this with sunflower seeds and it’s absolutely delicious. Planning to make a bunch more out of my successful basil plants and freeze it for the winter. It will be lovely to have a taste of summer when it’s 10 below.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Shelly! So lovely to freeze and save for winter =) Thank you for sharing! xo
M says
Very yummy. I made this in a winter lockdown with no basil around so used tired looking silverbeet, parsley, and NZ spinach that I sweated a little in the oil, before adding a few stalks of fresh parsley and fennel stalks. Sadly I have to share the results so may be raiding the garden again sooner than expected to have a steady supply!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thank you for sharing! xo
LuAnn says
I love this pesto!! Makes amazing pesto chicken. Just coat chicken generously with pesto and bake. Great added to salads. Topped stuffed hot peppers and quinoa with the pesto too.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Love that idea! Thanks so much for the lovely review, LuAnn!
LuAnn says
I also tried it with pistachios. Yummy!!
Kori Quatermass says
TL;DR: delicious, lemony, make a bunch to freeze, use part cashews to save money
I may have commented on this recipe a few years ago but I feel the need to comment again because this is THE BEST PESTO RECIPE! It is perfectly lemon-y and bursting with flavor. I am vegan but my omnivorous family likes it too!
I have made this recipe for the last 4 years but we always run out in a month or two so I wanted to try and make enough for a year.
This year I took 3 crowded potted basil pots from Costco wholesale ($8) broke them up into clumps and planted them in two raised beds. I ended up with an entire forest of basil.
After plucking leaves from the stems I ended up with 60+ compressed cups of basil which turned into about around 18 pints of pesto. I used part cashews and part pine nuts because of cost. Half is frozen in jars and the other half in muffin tins and then put into Stashers bags for a quick grab and add to scrambled “eggs” tofu, pizza, pasta, or on grilled “cheese”. Needless to say, I scaled this recipe up a lot.
I doubt it will last a year as I gave away 2 pints and I think my kids have eaten 3 or so more. I think I will need to add another raised bed so I can grow even MORE basil next year. Thank you for this delicious recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Wow, amazing! This is the kind of pesto dedication we love to see! Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Kori, we are so glad the pesto is enjoyed by all!
Claire says
I made this tonight with walnuts and fresh basil. Delicious easy in food processor. So good with excellent discussion how to adjust seasonings. Low and no oil options so appreciated.
Your recipes are spot on for use no oil vegans who don’t want to give up taste.
When I saw the sheralzai’s post on Instagram with you, YES, they found you too
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad our recipes are helpful, Claire! Thank you so much for letting us know! xoxo
monica says
my rating :)
Monica says
So so so delicious and i’m so glad that you give us tips on how to make it tangier, nuttier, etc cause that really helped me out when adjusting it to how i like pesto. Such a great recipe and i will definitely be making it again. Pairs really well with some homemade vegan mushroom ravioli!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yumm – love to hear this! Thanks for the lovely review, Monica!
Kim says
Another awesome recipe from Minimalist Baker. I loved this pesto – better than I remember traditional pesto being from my pre-vegan days. I used walnuts and it worked well. I like the hints for how to adjust the seasonings that are included in these recipes. I can usually identify that my food needs “something” just never sure what that “something” is. Based on the suggestions included in the recipe, I am able to adjust seasonings to my liking. I added a little extra salt and nutritional yeast.
This pesto was great on its own (I could have just eaten by the spoonful!) and I enjoyed it with zoodles and carrot spirals, both topped with cherry tomatoes.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it and that those adjusting notes were helpful. Thank you for the lovely review, Kim! xo
kelly says
i can’t stand the nutritional yeast flavor. it’s too strong and it overshadows the rest of the ingredients. i’m gonna try it without it next time.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Kelly, sorry to hear that! We do find some brands of nutritional yeast taste better than others, so we wonder if you’re using a brand you typically enjoy? Either way, you can definitely reduce or omit and it will be tasty.
Reba says
I am not vegan but cannot eat cheese. I have used nutritional yeast in other recipes but have not had one for pesto. This recipe helped with proportions and was excellent. I have not used lemon juice in pesto before but this added a brightness that helped to balance the yeast. Next time I might not use quite as much but, in all fairness, I doubled the recipe as my basil has been growing like crazy this summer.
I highly recommend this recipe for pesto!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing your experience, Reba! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!
Reba says
Just an update to my first post, I had some of the pesto again today, day 2, and it is even better! The lemon has blended in so nicely that I would not change how the recipe reads. At all! Enjoy!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! xoxo
Stephanie says
Loved it. I skipped the water and I used half cashews and half walnuts because sometimes walnuts can be a bit bitter, and added 1 Tbs white miso to up that umami flavor. This will definitely be my staple recipe as I freeze up all the basil from the garden. Thanks for the recipe!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! We’re so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing, Stephanie! xo
Maribeth says
Oh my goodness this was so delicious! I made it as written, but oil-free with veggie broth. Served it over gluten free brown rice pasta with roasted veggies and a little vegan parmesan. Thank you for such a yummy recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Maribeth! Thank you for sharing! xo
Hope says
This was amazing. It was vibrant and delicious and I found myself eating it with a spoon before I even added pasta. I previously had tried other recipes that called for a vegan Parmesan and the flavor was just not the same. What you did with the nutritional yeast really makes a difference. This is my go to pesto recipe from now on
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Hope. Thank you for sharing! xo
Trina Campbell says
It really was excellent!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
So glad to hear it, Trina! Thank you for sharing! xo
Amélie Macoin says
OMG! It’s exquisite. 🙏 That’s my 1st vegan pesto ever, I love cheese but didn’t find one second it was missing…
I rarely cook and often with random results (weird too sticky pancakes for ex.🥴), but this time it’s a wow! Even if it’s just putting stuff in a blender.😁 Thanks for making me proud of my cooking skills!😋
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, yay! We’re so glad you enjoy this pesto, Amélie! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Jenny says
Sorry I just realized you have written that it can be frozen! Sorry about that! Thank you :)
Jenny says
Hello!
I have a LOT of basil to use up and I am wondering if this recipe can be frozen and used later.
Thanks so much! looking forward to making it!
Jenny
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jenny! Leftover pesto can definitely be frozen for up to 1 month. xo
Anna Ress says
Best pesto I have ever made, hands down. The flavor is so amazing and well balanced, it makes me realize how distracting the Parmesan is in traditional pasta recipes.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for the lovely review, Anna. We’re so glad you enjoy the pesto! xo
BBS says
OMG SO YUMMY!!!! I just threw this together from fresh basil and tomatoes from the local farmers market (I made the salad with roasted tomatoes). Hands down the best pesto I have ever made (I used walnuts since it’s what I had in the pantry) and the salad is DIVINE, simple but such complex, satisfying flavors. My picky husband raved and gushed and ate two big bowls. We had corn on the cob as an accompaniment. Perfect summer meal. We have leftovers so I’m curious to see how it holds up for next day eating. Thank you for another delicious, fail proof recipe! Minimalist Baker was the first place I looked for a vegan pesto recipe (since your recipes are such reliable winners) and, as usual, you delivered!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! It all sounds delicious. Thanks so much for the lovely review, we’re so glad you both enjoyed! xo
Lo says
I made this recipe for the first time after a year of recipeless veggie pesto and finally realize that all my troubles have been due to my commitment to an absurd volume of nuts 😂
I swapped the water and oil volumes, added a bit more salt and lemon to my personal taste and am happily enjoying this for dinner! Great recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Lo. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Lo says
I thought I had!
Jared says
DELICIOUS! Easy to make and really liked the flavour! (used walnuts)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
So glad to hear it, Jared! Thank you for sharing!
Lauren Mulkey says
I made this tonight with brown rice spiral noodles from Trader Joe’s. I used walnuts (1/3 cup) and did everything else as recipe suggested. Thank you, my whole family enjoyed and I have 2 young daughters who can be on the picky side.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you and your family enjoyed it, Lauren. Thank you so much for sharing! xo
Vania says
Love this recipe!! Always make it with walnuts and it’s fabulous.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thank you for sharing, Vania! xo
Trinity says
Amazing! I didn’t know what to expect, but this is an incredible recipe. It will definitely be a staple in our home. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Trinity! Thank you for sharing! xo
Chloe says
I made this on Monday and used it as a dipping sauce with roasted cauliflower and the last two days I’ve had it as a pasta pesto dish! Tastes amazing !! And gets better each day will double up next time, thanks so much for sharing !!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum, love that idea, Chloe! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Kelley says
Thank you! Made this oil free so threw in an extra tbs of walnuts. I will make this again and again!!!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Kelley! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Kara says
So fast and easy, SO delicious! Will make again and again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for the lovely review, Kara! xo
Yarden says
Perfect vegan pesto. Put a little less garlic for preference but the texture is perfect and Dali chia. Will freeze :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Yarden. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Helen says
I made this today as my basil plant had lots of extra leaves. I used my food processor. I did not use any water. I had walnuts. I used 3 tablespoons of EVOO. I only used 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast as I was unsure if it would taste too strong with 3-4 tablespoons. Otherwise I did it exactly as directed. I thought it was very fresh and savory at the same time. I had it mixed in with some gluten free pasta, but would also like to try on a pizza. In the future, I will try adding 1 or two more tablespoons of the nutritional yeast, but it still tastes very nice with just 2 tablespoons. I guess it just depends on how “cheesy” you want the flavor to be.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for the kind review and for sharing your modifications, Helen! xo
Nicole says
I made this for the first time today and I LOVE it! Definitely my go to recipe from now on!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Nicole. Thanks for the lovely review! xo
Roger says
I am not able properly to digest cheese. Am delighted to have found your recipe for a pesto sauce which is dairy-free. I will be using your pesto in the preparation of (mainly Italian style) dishes where, traditionally, parmesan is taken for granted. — Bella!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Enjoy! xoxo
Rachael says
Will it taste good without nutritional yeast?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes!
Chi says
A truly perfect recipe. Glad I made double the quantity as half of it was gone before dinner was served….Coming from a non cheese eating family. Thank you MB!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the lovely review, Chi! xo
Mahalia Ashby says
How important is the nutritional yeast?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
The pesto will still be delicious if you leave it out, just won’t have that “cheesy” element to it.
Cathy says
I LOVE this recipe! I’ve made it twice this week alone. 😊 We doubled the garlic because, well, garlic and added burst tomatoes and seitan. My husband usually hates pesto but actually likes this one.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, Cathy! xo
Christina says
Heavenly!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
=) We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Christina!
Christian says
Not awful, but not good. Disappointing. Runny and too much nutritional yeast. I’ll definitely eat all of the recipe made but next time I’ll just use a regular pesto recipe and substitute a little more nuts and oil for the cheese.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Christian, sorry to hear that! It sounds like there might not have been enough basil. Was it tightly packed for measuring?
Britt says
When mine came out runny and too yellow (nutritional yeast), I found that I didn’t add enough basil and I added all the tablespoons of the water at once. I had not packed the cups! I added another loose cup of basil, and some more walnuts I had in my freezer as well as a little EVOO and kept processing. Turned out great!
VIVIAN RICHELSEN says
Hi, I’ve been making this recipe for some time now (because its amazing!!!!) and had a quick question. Do you use bottled lemon juice or freshly squeezed? Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Freshly squeezed!
Megan says
Hi! Is there a substitute for nutritional yeast for people who deal with candida issues?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Megan, feel free to leave it out!
Christian says
Yes. Very tightly packed. It got a little less runny after refrigerating, so I’ve increased my rating by a star.
Lexie says
This is super yummy! I followed the recipe as written except I did not need to use any water. Maybe its because I rinsed my basil first so it was a little wet before processing?
I have also made it before with walnuts instead of pine nuts and they work great too.
In any case, thanks for another great recipe!
Amazing! Thanks for sharing, Lexie!
JoAnna says
This was a big hit! So easy! I made it to drizzle on heirloom tomatoes and to also have as a sauce for guests to add on top of vegan tacos. Guests loved it. Bursting with deliciousness! I did not need to add any water to have the perfect consistency, but may have had a little less basil than called for. Next time will double for sure.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, JoAnna! xo
Claire says
My go to vegan pesto recipe-love it every time!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Claire. We are so glad you enjoy it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Ko says
This was a great, simple recipe. My boyfriend is allergic to dairy, and I was sort of sad about having to not use cheese– but honestly, this may have been one of the best pestos I’ve ever made. I also let it blend till totally creamy smooth and it was AMAZINGLY delicate, with a unique acidity that I typically don’t get in pesto. Adding some roasted-till-browned cauliflower to your pasta also helps balance the dish, giving it a hint of sweetness. This is definitely in my regular recipe rotation now!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed this one. Thanks for sharing!
Julia says
Just made this for the first time….amazing! I used pine nuts and Nooch (4 TBSP was just right for the cheesy-ness) and added extra sea salt and an extra clove of garlic. Can’t wait to use it on my vegan pizza tonight. Thank you for a great recipe!!
Amazing! Thanks for sharing, Julia!!
Chanah says
Can you leave out nutritional yeast? I cannot find it at my local grocer. Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes!
Dulce says
I am oil free. Can I sub aquafaba for the olive oil in this recipe?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hm, we’ve never tried aquafaba in pesto, but maybe? You could also just omit and add water or vegetable, if needed.
Angie says
Wow! Are you kidding me? This pesto is fabulous. Full of flavor and super simple. I added half the lemon juice and used water instead of oil. Can’t wait to use as a sauce on my butternut squash pizza (if I don’t eat it all first). Thank you!
Amazing idea, Angie!
Maureen says
Dana, you never disappoint. Used part walnuts, part sunflower seeds, extra garlic and added a fresh jalapeño-we love spicy! Licked the spatula🥰
Happy Thanksgiving!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, thanks Maureen! SO glad you enjoyed it! xo
Carson says
My absolute favorite pesto recipe (and I have been making pesto for 26 years). Best enjoyed immediately.
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Carson!
Nina says
Made this recipe and it’s really simple, easy to make and yummyyy. Thanks so much for making this and sharing it.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Nina! Thanks for the lovely review!
Leigh Taylor says
Thanks so much for this! I used it as a kind of guide and then kinda changed it slightly. I wanted to use basil AND corriander AND parsely haha, so I used a whole packet each of all three, half a squeezed lemon, three tablespoons of rapeseed oil, half teaspon of pink himaylain salt, large tbp of lazy (brand name) chopped garlic in vinegar, whole packet of pinenuts (about 100g) and 5 heaped tbsp of nutrional yeast, and as much water as it needed to my preffered texture. (Nice and thick!) So basically same as yours, just more of it all! Haha. It sits in a nice little pot in the fridge and lasts me about a week.
I really love it, thanks so much! Ive been doing quite a few of your recipes. I found you via a link from this site https://runningonrealfood.com/27-easy-vegan-desserts-6-ingredients-less/
as Im very new to making and baking (about a month) and I love it! Ive bookmarked your website and so many others LOL, and will eventually get through them all! Such fun!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Leigh! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications! xo
Vanessa says
This is delicious -thanks! I have also tried making it with sundried tomatoes instead of basil and I think it was even better. I shall never buy a jar of processed pesto again ☺
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Agreed- way better than processed =) Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Sheila says
I’m not vegan and I prefer this pesto to most others! I add extra lemon juice to keep it bright and I blanched and cooled my basil so it wouldn’t brown in the fridge
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Thanks for sharing, Sheila!
kathena says
Made this pesto for a party, followed the basics of this recipe and added my own flaire. Halfway through the party I went over to try some and people were like “have you tried this pesto?!” I was like “I made it” they were like “woahhh.. we’ve been raving about it for the past 30 minutes, wondering who brought this magic…” Needess to say, they loved it.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad everyone enjoyed it! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Kathena!
Leni Fleming says
Seriously YUMMM!!!
This is so good. I slightly increased the walnuts and olive oil, decreased the water, otherwise did it as written. I’m thrilled — I love pesto and figured a vegan version could never measure up. It totally did! It was perfect. Thank you, Dana!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Leni! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Maryann Martinelli says
Love this recipe! We used it for a base on a caprese pizza with vegan mozzarella! It was divine!! My grandson grew the basil and we whipped this pesto up quickly and easily. Thanks for the memories I made with him!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, love that! And that pizza sounds incredible! Thanks so much for sharing!
Emma says
Amazing and simple!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Emma!
Eileen says
This was easy to make & oh so flavourful! Didn’t miss the cheese at all!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing, Eileen!
SA says
This pesto is amazing!!! It was so easy to make. In fact, I have a really crappy blender so I added the oil and water in advance (only 2 tbsp each) to get everything to mix so it was a one step process. I also used half spinach because I couldn’t get 2c packed off my plants. Still tasted great! Another really easy mom hack is freezing pureed garlic in batches and then just using a chunk instead of peeling garlic for recipes individually. Saved even more prep work.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Smart! Thanks so much for sharing your tips!
Leora Mauck says
I was nervous about using nooch but this a wonderfully bright and fresh pesto. Brava!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Leora!
joan says
This was so easy. Excellent flavor. We used it on zucchini noodles and had garlic toast on the side. Wonderful! I can see many uses for this pesto. Thank you so much for sharing.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sounds incredible! Thanks so much for sharing, Joan!
Lizbeth says
I love your website and all your recipes, but this is my favorite. I make it ALL the time with basil from my garden. How do more people not know about nutritional yeast? It makes my whole pantry smell so lovely! I have tried this with walnuts and sunflower seeds, and it is the bomb!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, thanks so much for sharing, Lizbeth! xo
Neelima says
This recipe turned out to be awesome. I customized it by adding chilies to make it spicy 😀. Thank you so much all your recipes are very flavorful.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, thanks for your kind words and lovely review Neelima! xo
Courtney says
This is a great recipe. I used several kinds of basil from my garden, almonds, and added a couple TBS of Parmesan to the nutritional yeast for richness. I’m having some now spread on sourdough bread with kale soup. I’m looking forward to freezing the pesto to enjoy this winter!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Courtney! Thanks so much for sharing!
Marj says
So happy to find this yummy pesto!! Using nutritional yeast and a pinch of salt in place of parmesan cheese made my usual recipe dairy-free.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Marj! Thanks so much for sharing!
ss says
my new favourite pesto!! wow…this recipe packs tons of flavour! amazing.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Ann Marriott says
This is absolutely great. I used a mixture of pine nuts (so expensive) pumpkin seeds and almonds For the “nut” part. Forgive me I did not measure any of the ingredients out carefully but added by eye!! Thank you so much for the recipe It is so tasty and easy to make.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Ann. We are so glad you enjoyed this pesto! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Diana says
The tastiest sauce in my life. Used it as a dressing to pasta. SO GOOD!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Diana! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Bmore Natural says
This was a quick and easy recipe to follow.
I used pecans instead of pine nuts. The peach skin will make your pesto darker in color. So if you want a vibrant green pesto sauce try sticking with the pine nuts or maybe pumpkin seeds instead.
Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for sharing! xo
Tricia says
This is great. Easy to make. Delicious. Thank you!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Tricia =)
Kal says
Mmm, delicious! Very flavorful with just the right amount of everything- even better on homemade pasta. We subbed half of the basil for spinach and added crumbled feta for serving. The best pesto we’ve had in a long time! Making it again in a few days.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Kal! Thanks so much for sharing!
Diana says
So so so yummy and it’s vegan ❤️
This recipe is so simple, I did use walnuts instead of pine nuts just because pine nuts are soooo expensive. I didn’t roast the walnuts and there was no weird taste. The nutritional yeast adds creaminess and a great taste, plus it’s Vitamin B12 💕 Highly recommend. I also doubled the garlic cause garlic is life.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Diana. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Rachel says
Hi, I’m not able to use any kind of nuts or seeds due to allergies. Would the recipe still come out good if I skipped that part? Or is there something else I can replace it with? Thanks x
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
It will still taste good =)
Rebecca Adams says
Soooooooo delicious. I’ve made this a few times now and love it. I will never buy store bought pesto again.
That’s great! Thanks for sharing, Rebecca!
Sarah Vezer says
Loved this recipe! I made it for my family and even my 4 and 2 year old boys loved it on their spaghetti! I had to add the liquid (water and oil) pretty quickly because of the size of my blender (it was too large to pour slowly) and it still turned out beautifully. Thanks for the inspiration!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad everyone enjoyed it! Thanks so much for sharing, Sarah!
Kasey says
OMG. This was so good! I made this last night for some pizza. I was nervous about the taste because I forgot to buy lemons, but it was sooo good. It honestly didn’t even need the lemon (although next time I’ll give it a try with). I don’t have the strongest blender, so next time I would grind up my pine nuts With my mortar and pestle, but this was so easy to make. Will definitely be doing this one again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Kasey! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
sandra forte says
YUMO!!!! Super tasty and super healthy. Living in Australia my herb garden in winter has an abundance of parsley so I substitute the basil and in summer I use my basil. Love recipes that are seasonal and this works perfectly. Love, love, love this recipe. Thank you xx
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Sandra! Love the modification for eating with the seasons =) Thanks for sharing!
Eliza says
I was sceptical. I’ve made recipes before, that I’ve found online on other sites, that have turned out less than expected. I just made it a few minutes ago and I’m blown away. Not only is it the best pesto I’ve ever made but it’s the best pesto I’ve ever tasted. I made it with sunflower seeds and some basil I grew in my container garden. Thanks!
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Eliza!
Cazz says
Hi was wondering if I could sub walnuts for almond nuts
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That might work! We haven’t tried with almonds. Let us know how it goes!
Karla says
I swear this turned out even more delicious than the non-vegan pesto I made last year. Instead of fresh garlic I used fermented garlic, turned out beautifully. Going to serve it with some potatoes tonight for a potato salad. Thanks for the great recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Karla! Thanks so much for sharing!
Sylvie says
Just wondering if I could sub cilantro for basil?
Yes! It will taste different for sure, but will still be tasty.
Stacy Winters says
This is my go-to base pesto recipe! Quick & simple clean ingredients. It always comes out great. I’ll sometimes swap the nuts for walnut or even pumpkin seeds. If I want spice, I’ll add in some red pepper flake. Great recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Stacy! Love the additions- thanks so much for sharing!
Allisyn says
Oh my! I know I shouldn’t, but I could eat this by the spoonful! Knocks traditional pesto to the ground! Be sure to follow the steps and blend all the ingredients without the oil and water beforehand, otherwise (as I’ve found out) you will be unable to blend into a smooth sauce.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Allisyn! Thanks so much for sharing!
camille says
Hi! Can I use coconut oil instead of olive oil? :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We wouldn’t recommend that in this recipe. But maybe avocado oil?
Emma Thirkill-Kirk says
This was really good! Thanks! Xx
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Emma. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Robin says
Love this pesto! We don’t eat a strict vegan diet but love to have it without dairy and it tastes amazing. So easy to make and makes me happy after picking the basil from my garden!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Robin. We are so glad you enjoy it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Robin Moberly says
Oops! Sorry! Highest rating!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks Robin! xo
Beth L says
Love this recipe! Made it with walnuts and without oil. It was perfect!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Beth!
Luisa says
So good!!! Really incredibly good. I used way less garlic (I never imagined I would say this one day) but my cloves were massive. Didn’t add the water when mixing, then I heated the pesto in a non stick pan while cooking pasta and added a bit of the pasta water to the pesto. Added the pasta and some fresh cherry tomatoes. This was truly divine. Thanks!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Luisa! So good with pasta and cherry tomatoes =) Thanks so much for sharing!
mandisa ngubane says
Easily the best pesto I’ve ever tasted. It’s the only vegan pesto I’ve ever tried and I’m not willing to try others. I come back to this recipe time and time again because it is supremely delicious.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Mandisa!
Di says
What do you think of using sesame oil vs olive oil?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hmm, if referring to toasted sesame oil, we don’t think the flavors would be complimentary. Maybe okay with untoasted, but we haven’t tried it and can’t guarantee results.
S. Solomon says
I followed the recipe exactly ( except my
Garlic cloves were huge so I only used two). It was delicious!! I served it over pasta tossed with veggie sausage, broccoli rabe, and sundries tomatoes. Then I roped with some toasted pine nuts. Mmmm mmm.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum- sounds delicious! Thanks so much for sharing!
Shauna says
Great recipe! Served this pesto as a dip at a cocktail party – everyone raved about it & could not believe it was dairy-free. I tweaked it slightly by leaving out the raw garlic and the water; used walnuts instead of pine nuts; and added a very generous bunch of parsley to the mix…scrumptious! I’ll be returning to this recipe again – many thanks!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Shauna! Thank so much for sharing!
Allison says
This pesto is divine. I used freshly cut basil and squeezed real lemons rather than store bought lemon juice. Loved the freshness that the real lemon brought to it. Hands down my favorite pesto. I have been vegan for 3 1/2 years now and almost exclusively cook from your recipes several times a week over this time. Always reliable, easy, delicious food and a huge variety. Sorry for never telling you how great you are and how much your work is appreciated! I bet there are many other silent devour-ers of your site like me. Please keep them coming!
PS. For those of you new to the site, check out the BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches and Southwest Tofu Scramble. There are not words. Just do it. Now. Really, now.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, thank you so much for your kind words and lovely review, Allison! We’re so glad you enjoy our recipes! xo
Ania says
Hello, I wonder if it might be possible to use mint instead of basil? Have too much mint at the moment and trying to think of ways to use it up….Thank you
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Ania, hmm, we haven’t tried that and aren’t sure the flavors would be complimentary. But maybe? We think a mint chutney might be better. Perhaps check out this recipe as a guide.
Kelly says
We have plenty of basil in the garden, so I decided to make this today. It is a super delicious pesto. We have allergies in our family, so I looked for a dairy free recipe. I am so happy I found this one. I have made pesto in the past, without adding the parmesan, and it was ok. This one is amazing. The only change I made was that I toasted the pine nuts before adding to the processor. And I used 1/8 cup olive oil and no water.
Thanks for the great recipe. Will be making this often!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Kelly! Thanks so much for sharing!
Alice says
If I wanted to use scapes instead of garlic cloves, how many would you suggest?
Hmm, perhaps a small bundle? 1/2 cup chopped?
Ingvild says
Hi!
I never understand what you mean the option is when trying to go oil-free, what does « sub the EVOO for vegetable broth or water» mean?😅
Thanks you so much for your AWESOME recepies, the convertion to metric is the best, I am a Norwegian and not used to all the cups and stuff😅
Hugs!🤗
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Ingvild! We mean that instead of using olive oil, you could use vegetable broth or water. Hope that helps!
Sierra says
Awesome and fast pesto! I used the food processor and subbed sunflower seeds in for pine nuts. Delicious with pasta, chicken and veggies 😊
Thanks MB! 🙌🏼
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Sierra! Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca Edwards-Boyd says
I love pesto but hadn’t made it since I thought it would be a time consuming effort. This recipe was fast and delicious – picked fresh basil from my garden and the results are just delicious. Will be making more and freezing it!!! Many thanks for the great recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Rebecca! xo
Mandi says
So tasty and easy! Much better than Trader Joe’s Vegan Pesto. This recipe came out creamy for me. It was perfect. I didn’t have a lemon so I used vinegar instead. I used 4 tbsp of water and 3 tbsp of olive oil. We put it on grilled flank steak with salt and pepper tomatoes. It was hard to not eat the leftovers with a spoon!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Mandi! Thanks so much for sharing!
Connie Moultroup says
Ok. Had to fess up….I used this to make a creamy pesto sauce. Back in the day (30 years ago) I used to make chicken in a creamy pesto sauce. I haven’t found (until now) a pesto that would work in a vegan version. It was absolutely perfect!!!! Thank you for this recipe!!!
Thanks for sharing, Connie!
Connie Moultroup says
Once again….you hit it out of the park with this one!!!!! This is fast, easy and out of this world!!!!
Thanks, Connie!
Stacey says
I used the pesto as a sandwich spread. Absolutely delicious! I’m always recommending your recipes to family and friends. I can’t even count how many times I’ve made your recipes for Vegan Fried Rice or 5-Ingredient Granola Bars! Your recipes are amazing!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, thanks Stacey! xo
Tyler says
How much does 2 cups of basil weigh?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
96 grams. For future reference, you can find the weight measurements for our recipes by clicking “metric” beneath the ingredient header. Hope that helps!
Bethany says
We have missed pesto since going plant based three years ago. This recipe is a hit for our family and so easy to make. We make it without salt and oil and it’s great. Thank you!🌱❤️
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Bethany! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Susan W says
Had a bumper crop of basil and decided to try this. Made it with walnuts instead of pine nuts. It was delicious and my son (picky non-vegan 22 yo) thought so too! We loved the bite of the raw garlic and did not find it to be too noochy. (My nooch was a bit old and probably milder, and I used 3Tbsp.) Lots of flavour for just a few ingredients and a tiny amount of effort. Thx!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you both enjoyed it! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Susan!
Angela says
I just made this for dinner. I gave it a four out of five stars since I preferred this to the store brand. The only reason I gave it four and not five stars is that although I doubled the recipe, I feel like it didn’t make as much as I expected. But note, the pesto does go a long way!
My husband, although he liked the fresh ingredients, gave it three out of five stars. I think because it wasn’t what he expected. I did add sun-dried tomatoes and Kalamata olives. I did not have lemon or lime juice, so I substituted orange juice, which I read is the next best thing. I could not taste it. I also used veggie rotini. Delicious!
Nina says
I think the texture of this turned out perfectly, but a bit too much nutritional yeast for my liking! If you are not used to the nooch flavour, I would add significantly less
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for the feedback, Nina! Feel free to use less next time!
Maddie says
I didn’t love this, it was way too garlicky for my tastes, and for my kids! It’s also the first pesto I’ve made with an oil and water mix, which I thought gave it an odd consistency. I’d definitely make it again but with just one garlic clove, and no water and more oil :-)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for the feedback, Maddie! You could add more basil and/or spinach to your current batch to make it more mild. Hope that helps!
Jacqui says
I made this pesto today, delicious, better than shop bought, I didn’t add water though as was runny enough. Definitely will make in batches to freeze,
Thankyou
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Jacqui! Thanks so much for sharing!
Samantha says
As a non-dairy gal it is super tricky to get my traditional cheese loving parents to admit anything other than the real deal is even edible. This pesto blew us all away! I followed your recipe exactly and used pine nuts and it was creamy, bright, and so so freaking good. Thank you so much for helping me convert the old sticklers!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad everyone enjoyed it, Samantha! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
luisa says
I am allergic to nutritional yeast, is there any other substitute for this?
I am also allergic to garlic, but not onion, so I will use onion instead.
Do I need to soak walnuts over night?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Luisa, we’d recommend omitting it. No need to soak the walnuts.
Camille R says
Delicious and very easy! It turned out a bit liquid for my taste so I added a few pieces of avocado and it was a delicious & creamy addition!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Love the modification! Thanks for sharing, Camille!
Pedro Azevedo says
I made the recipe as an attempt to please my mom, who had to go on a dairy-free diet and was completely skeptical of “that thing called ‘nutritional yeast’.” Well, we can honestly say the vegan version almost beats the traditional pesto. Bear in mind that if you want a stronger flavor, pour just a little bit of water into the mix and don’t save on olive oil.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Pedro!
Sharon B says
I was nervous to make this recipe without oil, but it turned out just as good! (I’m avoiding oil for 10 days while I’m on a cleanse.) I added two cups of fresh Spinach, since I had it; and it’s quite common to make it that way in Peruvian cuisine, which is what I grew up with. I served it with spiraled sweet potato noodles. Mmmmmm! Such a great combo!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Sharon! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Jennifer Browning says
So yummy, we loved this!!! I made a few modifications due to a lack of pine and walnuts, so I used cashews instead. I also added parsley. Used with gluten free spaghetti. Highly recommend and would make again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Jennifer! Thanks for sharing! xo
Sandrina says
I like this recipe a lot. It is the first time I made pesto. It turned out great! I had to improvise a little, using cashews for the nuts and avocado oil instead of olive oil. I will try to make it with walnuts and olive oil next time I have those on hand!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad it turned out well! Thanks for sharing, Sandrina!
Michelle Simmons says
I made this just now. It’s amazing! OMG! Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Michelle. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Kookie says
This was so good!!! I made a Big batch 😍 how long will this last in the fridge? Thanks a bunch :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review- we are so glad you enjoy it! It will last ~1 week in the fridge. Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Zelda Reben says
Yet another amazing vegan version of a traditional dish. I made this over spaghetti with chopped tomatoes and fried shiitake mushrooms. Lovely!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Zelda! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Marta says
It’s soooo good! Just made it and I’m impressed with this beautiful flavor!
Whoop! Thanks, Marta!
Christine Mavlian says
I really wanted pesto for dinner but only had parsley and walnuts so modified this recipe a little. It was really delicious and I will add it to my regular repertoire.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Christine! Thanks so much for sharing!
Susie says
I made this today and it’s delicious! I added a couple of tablespoons of white wine vinegar and turned it into a dressing for a salad of roasted pumpkin, spinach, walnuts, and fetta. The taste was perfect. Thank you for the recipe!
Anne says
First time making pesto and oh my gosh- it turned out amazing! Subbed for walnuts and the flavor was unreal. I really think the nutritional yeast really took the flavor profile up a notch. I was literally licking the bowl. We served it over protein pasta but will try with our soybean and lentil pastas next. Thanks for always having wonderful vegan recipes, Dana! I love them!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks so much for sharing, Anne! xo
Victoria says
Excellent! I made 10 servings in my Vitamix in under an hour and froze it in small containers. Now all I have to do for dinners is cook the pasta! Btw, the bulk of that hour was spent removing the basil leaves from the stems. The actual recipe preparation took no more than 8 minutes.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Great idea, Victoria! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!
Michele says
Does this make enough to cover one pound of pasta? Or is that dependent on the amount of olive oil and/or water that is used? Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Michele, it depends how much pasta to pesto you prefer! But it would probably provide a light coating.
Eleni says
Delicious! I made some modifications to accommodate what we had on hand. Spinach + cilantro in place of basil, Extra garlic and half the lemon. I look forward to making it with basil when I get some. I’ve made so many of your recipes and love them all! Thank you
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad to hear it, Eleni! Thanks so much for sharing!
Veronika says
I normally absolutely love all of Minalmist Baker’s recipes but this one is a no for me. I followed her recipe to a T and it simply didn’t taste right and I’m a HUGE pesto lover.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sorry to hear that was your experience, Veronika! Since measuring basil can be a little challenging, it’s best to adjust to taste per the recommendations in step 3. Hope that helps!
shapelessjourneys says
So easy and delicious! I followed the recipe precise and it had exactly enough garlic and lemon juice! 3tbs of olive oil and 3tbs of water were more than enough as the pesto was quite liquidy that way. Delicious over my lasagna and on my ciabatta!
Katy says
Hi, looking forward to trying this!
Can I make this without the nutritional Yeast? I Don’t have any left if my cupboard.
Sure! The flavor will be slightly different, but texturally all will be well.
Vania says
So good!! Love the strong garlic and I added a little extra lemon and salt. This will definitely be my go to recipe for pesto.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Vania!
Marcie says
Looking forward to making this! Can I sub cilantro for basil?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
It will have a different flavor profile, but sure!
Becky Tetlak says
I made this recipe with spinach to top pasta & veggies. It was so easy; literally took 5 min. I love the flavor the nutritional yeast adds. Simple ingredients. Packed with flavor. A few minutes of time. Great color!
Caro Salinas says
I love this vegan pesto recipe! How long does it keep in the fridge? Can it be frozen?
Thank you so much!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Caro, Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator up to 1 week. After that, pour into ice cube molds, freeze, and store up to 1 month or more.
Joyce says
Could I use arugula instead of basil in this recipe?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hmm, we wouldn’t recommend using all arugula in place of basil, but maybe half would work!
Liza says
Hi Dana, what substitute would you recommend in place of nutritional yeast? Im trying to omit yeast from my diet.
Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Liza, we think it could be omitted without a problem! Hope that helps!
Marlee says
Best diy pesto! Easy to make and great for pasta, pizza, or to use as a condiment.
Victoria Molina says
Ugh, this is a staple. I always eat spoonfuls out the fridge! Delicious as is.
Vicky says
Nice and easy however 3 cloves of garlic was way too much, it killed the rest of flavours, I can still taste it the next morning. I’d add it to taste or roast before adding. Also I’ll try roasting pine nuts next time.
Belle says
Easy and delicious. I like how you can just blend it all together before adding the oil. I don’t like to get the processor out because I’m lazy, but it was definitely worth it.
Kerri says
I made this with plans to save it for some pasta tonight, but it was so good I ate almost all of it with a spoon!
Shane Page says
Was very delicious, but a little too tangy. I’ll just use less lemon juice next time, as everything else was perfect :)
Pam says
FABULOUS! My measurements were a little different because I needed to use up my fresh basil. I probably had about 3 cups fresh basil a rounded 1/4 cup of each pine nuts and nutritional yeast, juice of 1 lemon, 4 cloves garlic since this was more than the recipe and rounded portions of everything else to hopefully adjust so it was close to the original flavor profile. I subbed water for the oil with red flags raiding in my mind that no way could this be as delicious as regular homemade pesto with freshly grated cheese and olive oil. Despite my preconceived notions, I found it flavorful and fabulous! No one would EVER know it was vegan or oil free. So glad I tried it and thank you for such an amazing and healthy recipe!!!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing!
Megan says
I made this with all spinach and love the flavor. While not vegan, I am dairy and soy free. I had not tried pesto before making this so I can’t compare it to that made with parm. I make it in a wide mouth quart jar and my immersion blender. No extra dishes to wash, just screw on a lid and put in the fridge. I love it on toast in the morning too.
Kristen says
Soooo good!! I added sundried tomatoes, and skipped the lemon as I never used to use it when making classic non-vegan pesto. I can’t really explain how happy it makes me that pesto can still be on a vegan’s menu!! ?
Kim Tibbetts says
This recipe is easy, fast and absolutely delicious. I added extra lemon because I didn’t think it was worth saving the extra from a whole lemon. I ate it over zucchini noodles. I love that it can be frozen!
Michely says
Are the nuts supposed to be raw or roasted?
We used raw, but roasted (lightly) can work, too!
Michely Alba says
Is this sauce good for a vegan pesto pizza?
Yes! It may lose its vibrant color when baking, so you could opt to add it after for serving.
Sabine says
I just made this pesto and I‘m amazed how insanely delicious it turned out! I used walnuts, omitted the oil and used 5 tbsp of water instead. Never would I have imagined this could taste this great without any oil. Thanks a lot for the recipe MB – 5 stars!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad to hear it! Thanks for sharing!
Daniella says
I have made this multiple times and love it! Sometimes I do no oil and all water, other times I add a couple TBSP of EVOO. I use pumpkin seeds instead of pine nuts. I did try sunflower seeds but I think the pumpkin seeds give it the flavor I’m looking for. Thank you for such a wonderful quick recipe! It’s a hit with everyone who has tasted it!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad to hear it! Thanks for sharing!
Jacqui says
I wanted to make an awesome and impressive vegan dish for my carnivorous friends. They had superb compliments although I left out the oil. I would certainly make my oil free version of this vegan pesto again and again.
Billie says
It’s okay, I personally found it much too tart for my taste and couldn’t get the fatty mouthfeel that pesto usually has. I followed the recipe at first, then added extra salt, oil, and nutritional yeast. It’s still meh for me. I don’t think I’ll make it again but if I did I would roast the garlic, and use toasted salted nuts.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sorry to hear this one wasn’t for you, Billie! You could reduce the lemon for less tartness. Better luck with the next one!
J.T. says
Simple and super easy. I made the pesto tonight with cashew nuts instead because that’s what I had in the pantry. It was so delicious with my red and white quinoa macaroni. My husband and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely make it again. Thank you so much for such a great recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing!
J.T. says
Hi Dana,
Happy New Year!
I’m going to make pesto again tonight. I only have Thai basil in my pantry. Will Thai basil work in this recipe?
That should work!
Danielle says
This literally takes only 5 minutes to make!
I used 3 Tbsp of nutritional yeast.
I used 3 Tbsp of EVOO.
I didn’t use any water.
I served this pesto over 1 pound of Banza bow tie pasta and added fresh san marzano tomatoes.
It was very, very good.
I just wish I made more pesto or didn’t use a whole box of pasta when mixing it together.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Thanks for sharing, Danielle! xo
Emily says
Excellent recipe. I used one large clove of garlic and a little more lemon juice and it was nice and zesty. Love. Love. Love. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Emily! Thanks for sharing! xo
Mayen says
Hi! Can I sub pecans in place of pine nuts? Also, I am allergic to garlic, what can I use in place of it? Onion possibly or onion powder even? Also, what happens if I add more olive oil instead of water?Thank you, your recipes are a life saver for someone like me with TONS of food allergies and intolerance. I’ ve found that your recipes are straight forward, healthy and easy to adjust if needed.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Mayen, we’re so glad you find our recipes helpful! Thanks for sharing that! You could try garlic-infused olive oil if that is tolerated. Otherwise, feel free to omit the garlic. We haven’t tried pecans, but it might work. Other alternatives that might work better would be sunflower seeds or walnuts. Adding more olive oil might make the flavor overpowering, but you can certainly try it for a pesto with a thicker consistency!
Elizabeth says
This was so good! Tossed it with pasta and steamed broccoli for dinner. Will definitely make again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Great idea! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!
Malini says
Can the nutritional yeast be left out?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes
Regina says
Just made this for dinner tonight, soooo good and so easy! Will be making this often!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Regina! xo
Lucy says
Thank you very much for this recipe, it was quick, it was delicious (made it with walnuts) and I´ll definately do it again! :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Lucy. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Elizabeth says
This was quick and easy and very delicious. I put it on Modern Table Elbows, pasta made with lentils, rice, and peas. For the pesto, I only needed to add 1 Tbsp of olive oil and 1 Tbsp of water. I used the pine nuts. Yummy recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Elizabeth! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
StaceyN says
I made this and it was really yummy! I used fresh basil from my garden and only made a few changes. I only added a splash of lemon juice since I’m not a huge fan of too much lemon. Then I used only olive oil vs olive oil and water. I just slowly added it till it got to the consistency I liked. I haven’t made pesto since I went dairy free so I was really missing it and was worried about not being able to add parmesan like I was used to. This was still super good without the parmesan and I’ll be making it again for sure. :D
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Stacey!
Alec says
Another adaptation which turns out as largely a different recipe, although not vegan myself, I often make it for a community group as novelty, and am experimenting with nettle pesto on a beremeal flatbread base.
In the absence of artisan products like vegan cheese in local shops, am going to experiment with a recipe for courgette cheese.
Anna Libby says
Followed the recipe to a t and it came out delicious!!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Anna! xo
Laura says
Followed this recipe, substituting the pine nuts for cashews with sea salt because that’s what I had on hand. My dairy-allergic son absolutely loves pesto, but the vegan variety that we usually get at the grocery store has been out of stock, so we tried this instead. Absolutely delicious! Thank you for an easy and excellent recipe!
Thanks for sharing, Laura!
Andrea V says
Sauce came out better than I expected. Added this to some vegan tortellini from kite hill and it was absolutely delicious. I did substitute half of the nutritional yeast for vio-life Parmesan and added pasta water instead of regular water. Also, roasted garlic instead of raw and added fresh pepper. Overall, this is a keeper!