Homemade Basil Pesto

If you are wondering what to do with leftover basil, or you want to make a basil pesto recipe without pine nuts, then you’ll LOVE this Homemade Basil Pesto! It’s a pine nut-free pesto that also happens to be paleo and vegan, too! Drizzle it on pasta, vegetables, or a sandwich! The options are endless!

You guys, we have a dairy-free pesto, and it is uncomplicated and utterly fabulous! Okay, so maybe I’m a little biased. How about I share some proof? Twinkle and I ate all but half of one little dish of pesto mixed in with gluten-free pasta. And we managed to do this in under, oh, I’d say about 45 minutes. We would have moved faster, but I was snapping photos as we sneaked our bites. By the time the photoshoot was done, nothing but a sliver of deliciousness was left for K-Hubs and Toodle to share. Twinkle and I cannot be trusted.

But can you really blame us? After all, this Homemade Basil Pesto is zesty, tangy, and boasts just the right amount of crunch. Since this is a pine nut-free pesto recipe (thanks to food allergies), I used cashews instead, and it was incredible! Cashews are versatile because they don’t overpower the recipes they’re in. And in this pesto, they complement the lemon and garlic and add enough bulk to feel and taste like a traditional fresh basil pesto recipe. In fact, I kinda love adding cashews in place of pine nuts because although this is a mouthwatering pesto, I can adjust the intensity by how many cashews I add to the mix.

If you are wondering whether you can use other nuts, the answer is YESSSSS! Go for it! People add walnuts, for example, instead of cashews or pine nuts. Make a mental note, though, that the pesto flavor WILL CHANGE depending on the nuts used. So pick a nut that you’ll enjoy. This advice might also apply to finding a life partner, or maybe that’s just in my family.

I digress.

This dairy-free pesto recipe is rich and creamy. It’s also a gluten-free sauce that is vegan and paleo, too. If you have a blender, then you can whip up your own batch of Homemade Basil Pesto in just a matter of minutes! 

So let’s do this!

HOMEMADE BASIL PESTO INGREDIENTS:

Fresh basil and roasted cashews are a dynamic due in this Homemade Basil Pesto recipe. And you control the intensity of the flavor by how much of each ingredient you add.

• Fresh basil. I chop the basil leaves, even slightly, so they blend more easily during the process and are less likely to clog the blades.
• Olive oil and water. At first I wondered how well the water and oil would emulsify. It turns out they work well together!
• Lemon juice and garlic cloves. If there are ingredients that are meant to complement fresh basil leaves, it has to be these two. Add more or less as desired for a strong or mild flavor.
• Roasted cashews. I buy roasted cashews, maybe lightly salted, and that’s about it. Nothing fancy, no complicated added ingredients. Hmm mm. This pesto doesn’t need anything  fancy because it’s awesome just the way it is!
• Sea salt. I use about 1/4 teaspoon in this recipe to add just the right zing to the pesto. This may vary depending on whether you use nuts that are already salted.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE BASIL PESTO:

It’s helpful to have a high-speed blender for this Homemade Basil Pesto recipe. And I typically just throw everything together for easy blending. Flavor over fancy!

1. Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender in the order listed and blend until desired consistency is reached. For a thicker, bulkier pesto, blend on a low to medium speed for a short period. For a smoother, creamier pesto, blend on a higher speed until desired consistency is reached.
2. Serve with vegetables, mixed in with pasta, or layered on a sandwich.
3. Store in the refrigerator. The pesto will thicken as it stands.

HOMEMADE BASIL PESTO BEST PRACTICES:

• Start with 1/4 cup cashews for a tangier pesto flavor. And if you want more bulk, then add the rest. 
• For greater control over how tangy your pesto is, add 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice to start and pour in the rest if you want a bold flavor.

And if you’re in the mood for another creative pesto recipe then check out this Avocado Pesto with Garlic and Fresh Cilantro! It’s the perfect addition to burgers, pizza, and seafood!

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This recipe is inspired by a recipe I found in Dr. Amy Myer’s incredible book, The Autoimmune Solution! I changed the amount of liquids used, along with different nuts and flavorings.