Basil Spinach Pesto Without Nuts

Spinach pesto without nuts requires only a handful of ingredients and is ready in minutes. Use it on your favorite salads, pastas, pizzas and more! This nut-free basil pesto recipe tastes just like the real thing – you wouldn’t even know there are no nuts in it!

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I can’t lie – I’ve been intimidated to make my own homemade pesto sauce without nuts and I don’t really know why.

I’m allergic to pine nuts and tree nuts – so most pestos are out for me. As a Registered Dietitian, I take food allergies very seriously. But, can you make pesto without nuts? Absolutely!

And now, it’s going to be a weekly staple for me to add to sandwiches, pizza, salads and more. Or occasionally, maybe I’ll swap it with this high protein pesto recipe!

What the Dietitian Mom Says…

“This spinach pesto without nuts is incredibly easy, flavorful and perfect for spring and summer meals. I also love to spread it on these chicken thighs and veggies or any roasted veggies.”

Why You Should Try Spinach Pesto Without Nuts

• Versatile – You can use this nut-free pesto recipe on so many things, even aside from pasta, like our favorite pesto naan pizza! Chicken tastes dry? Add this nut free basil pesto!
• Nutritious – As a dietitian, of course, I want my food to provide nutrition and flavor, which this does! I love using it as a homemade sauce on everything!
• Nut free – Did I mention it’s nut free? I am allergic to tree nuts, so perfecting a basil pesto without nuts was important.
• Stores well – Keep it in the fridge for up to a week and you can freeze it for up to 3 months!
• Kids can help make it – As you know, one of my core focuses for family style meals is letting them help cook and prepare food. For this simple recipe, this just entails throwing the ingredients in a food processor and watching it transform.

Simple Ingredient Notes

Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe. We love to put the pesto on roasted sweetpotatoes, but you can omit them if you’d like.

• greens of choice – I love a spinach blend in this easy spinach pesto, but whatever you prefer!
• tahini (sesame seed paste) – Tahini is a great source of healthy fats and protein.
• lemon juice – This adds a slight tanginess that pairs perfectly with the savory parmesan cheese.
• grated parmesan cheese – If you’re going for a vegan spinach pesto recipe, nutritional yeast is a fantastic substitution.
• sweetpotatoes – We love using this pesto on sweetpotatoes, but you can serve it on or with anything!

How to Make Homemade Pesto Without Pine Nuts

If you have a nut allergy like me, or you just want a nut free basil pesto recipe, this will change your life.

First, if you plan to serve it on baked sweetpotatoes like we do, you’ll want to cut and season your sweetpotatoes and put them in the oven.

Then, all you do is combine the basil pesto ingredients (Spinach, basil, tahini and lemon juice) in a high-speed blender or food processor.

I love letting my little ones help with this – adding the ingredients and then pressing process on the food processor is so exciting for them.

It’s a great demonstration of food transformation – how the ingredients transform into something so cool and tasty.

Plus, this nut free basil pesto is such a pretty green color that can spice up most brown or dull foods.

What to Serve with Nut Free Basil Pesto

Here are some spring and summer recipes that will pair nicely with a refreshing spinach and basil pesto without nuts.

• Oven baked Chicken Kabobs
• Vegan Couscous Salad
• Summer Orzo Broccoli Salad
• Dipping sauce for Quinoa Pizza Bites
• Mango Quinoa Salad

Storage

You can store your nut-free pesto just like you would regular pesto. Store it in the fridge in an airtight tupperware container for a week, though some people have reported success storing it for two weeks.

You can also freeze nut free basil pesto, for up to 6 months. I recommend freezing them individually in souper cubes or ice cube trays and just thaw as needed!

Servings 10 servings

Basil Spinach Pesto Without Nuts

Sarah Schlichter, MPH, RDN

Spinach pesto without nuts requires only a handful of ingredients and is ready in minutes. Use it on your favorite salads, pastas, pizzas and more! This nut-free basil pesto recipe tastes just like the real thing – you wouldn't even know there are no nuts in it!

5 from 1 rating

Print Pin

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Ingredients  

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Nut Free Basil Pesto

• 3 cups spinach/greens blend
• 1 1/2 cups basil
• 2 Tbsp tahini
• 3 Tbsp lemon juice about the juice of 1 lemon
• 1/3 cup avocado oil
• 1/3 cup grated Parm cheese
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper

Roasted Sweetpotatoes

• 2 medium sweetpotatoes, washed and diced
• 2 Tbsp avocado oil
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions 

1. Add all ingredients for basil pesto to a blender or food processor and blend for 2-3 minutes, or until smooth.
2. Taste and adjust as necessary (more/less salt, more lemon, cheese, etc.)
3. Enjoy pesto on salads, stir fries, sandwiches, pastas, roasted veggies and more.

Notes

*If you are just making the pesto by itself, you can skip the sweetpotatoes and baking and the pesto will be ready in minutes!

 

*If baking sweetpotatoes, add 30-40 extra minutes for baking.  Preheat your oven to 350. Dice your sweetpotatoes and add to a baking sheet. Combine olive oil and spices in a bowl and add to diced sweetpotato. Cook for 25-30 minutes, or until sweetpotatoes soften.

Equipment

Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil 16.9 oz., Non-GMO for High-Heat Cooking, Frying, Baking, Homemade Sauces, Salad Dressings and Marinades

Kevala Organic Sesame Tahini, 32 Ounce

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 165kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 3gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 208mgPotassium: 244mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 7481IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?Let us know how it was!