Walnut Pesto (Vegan, Oil-Free!)

This easy Walnut Pesto recipe is so bright, herby, and fresh! It's simple to prepare in just a few minutes. It adds instant flavor to pasta, sandwiches, wraps, veggies, pizza, and more! (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)

This vibrant Walnut Pesto recipe is a delicious alternative to pine nut pesto!

It's super easy to assemble in just 10 minutes or less. All you need is a food processor and a few simple ingredients. (No refined oils or dairy necessary!)

Homemade pesto tastes so much better than store-bought versions. It's fresh, herby, and shines bright with flavor!

It's an excellent way to instantly enhance and elevate flavor in sandwiches, pasta, roasted veggies, salads, pizza, and more. I love its versatility between dip, sauce, or spread!

Ingredients for Walnut Pesto

For this recipe, you'll blend together in a food processor:

• Fresh basil leaves: You'll need two cups lightly packed basil leaves. I find this is about 50 grams or 1.5 ounces, large stems removed. (My local store sells a 3 oz. package of sweet basil, which is usually the right amount after the large stems are removed.) I remove the stems because they tend to have a bitter taste. For best quality, find basil with vibrant color and no dark spots.
• Walnuts: I use raw, unsalted walnuts, but you can use roasted for extra depth of flavor. Be sure they're good quality and not bitter. Pine nuts are the classic ingredient in pesto, but I find them expensive and sometimes difficult to locate. So I swap in walnuts because they're more readily available and I usually have them on hand.
• Fresh lemon juice: You'll need two tablespoons lemon juice. This adds acidity and also helps preserve the bright green color of the basil.
• Nutritional yeast: Traditional pesto typically includes Parmesan cheese, so I substitute it with nutritional yeast. It adds a slightly cheesy, savory flavor so it's a great dairy-free substitute.
• Garlic cloves: I like two cloves, but you can adjust as desired. I use fresh garlic, but roasted garlic could add interesting flavor as well.
• White miso: This adds salty, umami flavor and depth. I highly recommend including it, but if you don't have miso, then substitute with a quarter teaspoon salt. You can also add black pepper to taste.
• Aquafaba or water: Aquafaba is the liquid found in canned chickpeas. I use this in place of oil. But you can use water instead if you don't have any. (And if you're looking for chickpea inspiration after you open your can, here are 30+ Vegan Chickpea Recipes!)

Customizing

Nuts: Feel free to use the more classic pine nuts in place of walnuts if you'd like. Almonds can be used as well since they have a neutral flavor. Pecans could also work.

Spicy: For a spicy twist, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to taste.

Adding oil: I prepare this homemade pesto oil-free, but you can drizzle in a few tablespoons of high-quality extra-virgin olive oil in place of the aquafaba.

Serving

Pasta: Toss your favorite cooked pasta with this vegan pesto for a light, refreshing meal! Add veggies and some Vegan Parmesan Cheese to round it out.

Pizza: Use this flavorful pesto sauce on homemade pizzas instead of classic red sauce. (Or simply dollop it on top of your pizza for more flavor.)

Sandwiches & wraps: Spread it as a condiment on sandwiches, wraps, burgers, or quesadillas. It's also great on toasted bread, bruschetta, pita, garlic bread, or naan. You can even create a "Pesto Mayo" by stirring it together with this Cashew Mayo (or your own favorite mayonnaise).

Dip: Enjoy it as a dipping sauce with crackers, oven fries, or vegetables.

Enhance other dishes: Spoon a dollop into your mashed potatoes, in soup, or roasted vegetables, quinoa salads, or any other creative ways you think of! (I'd love to hear how you use it.)

Storing

Store leftovers in a sealed glass jar or other airtight container in the refrigerator. I find it keeps for about 5-7 days. Give it another stir before serving.

Freezer: I haven't tried freezing this recipe, but pesto generally freezes well. People often use ice cube trays to freeze it in individual portions.

For more inspiration, also browse all vegan sauce & seasoning recipes.

If you're enjoying this vegan walnut pesto recipe, also check out:

• Chipotle Crema
• Vegan Big Mac Sauce

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