Basil Spinach Pesto Without Nuts

July 27, 2023
Last Updated: October 20, 2023
1 Comment
Recipes

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!

bowl of roasted sweetpotatoes with basil

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I’m not gonna lie – I’ve been intimidated to make my own homemade pesto sauce and I don’t really know why.

First off, I’m allergic to pine nuts and tree nuts – so most pestos are out for me.

But, can you make pesto without nuts? Absolutely!

And now, it’s going to be a weekly staple for me!

This spinach pesto without nuts is incredibly easy, flavorful and perfect for spring and summer meals.

Why We Love Spinach Pesto Without Nuts

Versatile – You can use this basil pesto recipe on so many things, even aside from pasta! 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 non-processed 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 intuitive eating for kids is letting them help cook and prepare foods. This just entails throwing ingredients in a food processor and watching it transform.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe. We used the basil from our back deck – so fun!

greens of choice – I love a spinach blend in this easy spinach pesto but whatever you prefer!
basil – Freshly picked is our favorite.
avocado oil – Olive oil works great as well and can be substituted 1:1.
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.
spices – I love italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper
sweetpotatoes – We love using this pesto on sweetpotatoes, but you can serve it on or with anything!

ingredients in bowls to make spinach pesto without nuts

How to Make Homemade Pesto Without Pine Nuts

If you have a nut allergy like me, or you just want a homemade pesto without nuts, this is your recipe.

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

You could also use this nut free basil pesto recipe on a baked sweetpotato.

Then, all you do is combine the ingredients in a high speed blender or food processor.

Spinach, basil, tahini and lemon juice combine in this seamless homemade pesto without nuts.

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

basil homemade pesto without nuts in food processor.

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

Plus, it’s a pretty green color that can spice up most brown or dull foods.

What to Serve with Nut Free Basil Pesto Recipe

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

You really can’t go wrong with whatever you choose!

FAQ

How do I store Nut Free Pesto?

You can store it in the fridge in an airtight tupperware container for a week, though some people have reported success storing it for two weeks. Ours just never lasts that long. You can also freeze nut free basil pesto.

How long can you freeze pesto?

You can freeze pesto for up to 6 months. We love to freeze them individually in souper cubes or ice cube trays and just thaw as we need them!

Can I still add nuts to this?

While I made this spinach pesto without nuts due to a nut allergy, if you don’t have an allergy or you prefer pine nuts or other nuts in your pesto, you can add them. You may need to add more oil to account for the thicker consistency.

10 minutes