Vegan Pesto Recipe with Almonds - TeriLyn Adams (2024)

FAQs

What to use instead of Parmesan in pesto? ›

As a vegan ingredient darling and the prototypical cheese flavor alternative, nutritional yeast is a classic Parmesan substitute when making a dairy-free pesto. In many recipes, you'll find it used as a one-for-one swap for the grated cheese, with everything else in the formula staying the same.

For modern makers who like the quickest method: Stick with the food processor. The pesto won't be as creamy, but if you're all about efficiency this will do the trick. For those on a budget or with small kitchens: Go for the mezzaluna or the immersion blender.

Most pesto sauces contain four main ingredients; Basil, garlic, pine nuts and Olive oil. The best ingredients equal the best tasting sauce. Traditionally, basil pesto has pignoli nuts but I've had pesto made with parsley or cilantro that used almonds as well as pistachios.

The base is fresh basil, pine nuts, and garlic with a splash of lemon juice for acidity and brightness. For that cheesy color and flavor, I rely on nutritional yeast, which is a man-made yeast that can be high in B12 (depending on the brand).

What Kind of Cheese Should I Use? I used fresh mozzarella because I love the way it melts, but you can use block or grated mozzarella in its place (that's usually more affordable as well). Other types of cheese that would work great with pesto are: smoked mozzarella, gruyere, swiss, brie, or white cheddar.

Most pesto is not considered vegan for the sole reason that basic recipes call for some kind of hard cheese like Parmesan or pecorino, which is not suitable for vegans. Some authentic Parmesan is even made using rennet, an enzyme found in the lining of a goat or calf's stomach.

Garlic is a traditional component that livens up the pesto with aromatics and makes it taste a whole lot more interesting. Don't skip it.

Pesto Sauce

This fresh and fragrant pasta sauce is served uncooked, so choose a pasta shape that won't overwhelm it. Similar to oil-based sauces, pesto is served best with longer cuts of pasta, like the corkscrew shape of Fusilli. Pesto works best with Bucatini, Capellini, thinner Spaghettini, and Fettuccine.

Pesto, on the other hand, flourishes best when paired with thinner noodles, such as spaghetti and linguine, and with shapes that have plenty of twists, grooves, curls, and troughs. Fusilli is not only one of the most well-known pasta shapes; it's also the UK's most popular and our ultimate shape to use with pesto.

Almonds. These are less flavorful than pine nuts, but they work just fine. You can soak almonds overnight to remove their skins—this will also make them softer in texture, more closely resembling pine nuts. Toasting the nuts will intensify their flavor.

What nuts taste best in pesto? ›

Pistachios, almonds, and walnuts or even seeds like sunflower, sesame, and pumpkin can replace the traditional pine nuts in pesto. Pretty much any edible nut tastes delicious—just make sure to toast and cool the nut before grinding them into the sauce.

FAQ: How Long Does Homemade Pesto Last? You can store this basil pesto in a jar or sealable container, then tightly seal and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2–3 months. Let it thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

If, for whatever reason, you're interested in making a dairy-free pesto, you can go ahead and leave the cheese out, but be sure to increase the quantity of nuts and seeds you're using to compensate. TRY WITH: Pecorino Romano, aged manchego, aged gouda, aged cheddar, cotija, Grana Padano, aged Asiago.

How long does vegan pesto last? Fresh pesto will store well in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Keep a layer of plastic wrap pressed directly onto the top of the pesto so it doesn't brown.

Try replacing half the basil with arugula, kale, radish greens, parsley, or spinach. You could also skip the basil entirely and use a mix of parsley and cilantro or a 50/50 blend of fresh mint and spinach. Swap the nuts. Almost any nut or seed works well in this vegan pesto recipe!

Parmesan is a hard cheese made from cow's milk. Two great substitutes are Grana Padano and pecorino. Like Parmesan, Grana Padano is made from cow's milk, but is sweeter and creamier, and has a slightly nutty flavor to it. Pecorino is made from sheep's milk.

Grana Padano: Italian hard cheese with a nutty flavour, similar to Parmesan, perfect for grating. Manchego: Spanish sheep's milk cheese, brings a rich, nutty profile, ideal for baked macaroni and grilled cheese sandwiches. Pecorino Romano: Sharp, salty sheep's milk cheese adds depth to pasta dishes and salads.

When to Use Shredded vs. Grated Cheese. If a recipe calls for shredded or grated cheese, you're fine using cheese that you grate yourself at home or store-bought shredded cheese. That is, unless the recipe specifies freshly grated, then you should grate the cheese yourself.