Go Back
walnut pesto 1x1
Those Vegan Chefs

Vegan Pesto Sauce

5 from 2 votes
Vegan pesto sauce should be a simple sauce to make, after all, it's basil, extra virgin olive, garlic, and pine nuts, however, with a few adjustments in ingredients and method, we can make a vegan pesto that you will want to put on everything. Walnuts make this pesto stand out as a vegan pesto. It is challenging to replace Parmesan cheese just by using plants. The walnuts bring creaminess and earthiness, and the one thing that I think is the most important is a gentle amount of bitterness and a hint of sharpness, these are the very same flavor profiles of Parmesan cheese. 
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Blend time 2 minutes
Total Time 7 minutes
Servings: 9 ounces
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 211
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ cup walnuts baking pieces
  • 2-4 garlic cloves fresh peeled
  • ½ tsp salt kosher
  • ¼ tsp red chili flakes
  • 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • ¾ cup olive oil extra virgin
  • 4 cups basil leaves, fresh

Equipment

  • 1 High Speed Blender

Method
 

How to make vegan pesto
  1. Place the water, walnuts, garlic, salt, red chili flakes, and nutritional yeast in the blend, slowly start to puree the mixture, and slowly add the extra virgin olive oil, it should only take about 20 seconds to emulsify the extra virgin olive oil.
  2. Add the basil leaves, puree until smooth, about 15- seconds, remove from blender, and cool in the refrigerator until time to use.

Notes

Nutritional values are an estimate.