This nut-free Spinach Basil Pesto is not only good for your tastebuds; it's good for your wallet as well! In less than 3 minutes, you can have a tasty and versatile sauce for proteins, vegetables, pasta, and bread.
This is actually my go-to pesto recipe. Unlike the classic version, it doesn't require any pine nuts in the ingredients. Whether you're skipping the nuts due to allergens or cost (pine nuts are incredibly expensive!), you'll love the taste of this sauce.
As a plus; spinach-basil pesto is a great option for those watching their calorie intake, since nuts are very calorie dense. Top your protein with a nice spoonful of this sauce for lean flavor!
The Coined Breakdown
- Total Cost per serving: $0.36
- Total Cost (about 13.5 ounces): $4.81
- Those Other Guys: $11. 99 per 13.6 fluid ounces
Ingredients
- Spinach Leaves - Instead of pine nuts, we're going to use spinach as the base of our pesto. It adds such a lovely, bright green color, a fresh taste, and tons of nutrients!
- Basil - Basil is a key part of pesto. You can use fresh basil leaves, or basil paste if you have that.
- Olive Oil - Grab a quality olive oil to go in this recipe.
- Garlic- A bit of garlic cloves (or a lot, I won't judge), lends a great flavor to the pesto.
- Lemon Juice - Lemon juice adds acidity and brightness to your sauce.
- Parmesan Cheese - Parmesan gives sauces some saltiness and a bit of creaminess. However, if you're dairy-free, feel free to leave it out.
Variations and Substitutions
Nuts: Although we don't use any nuts in this pesto sauce, you can substitute the pine nuts in the original recipe for sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for a more allergen-friendly sauce.
Pesto Chicken & Avocado Salad: This recipe marinates the chicken in our pesto, before grilling and adding to a fresh salad base. So good and herbaceous!
Pesto Spinach Puffs: Spinach Puffs with Pesto are one of my readers' favorite appetizers on Coined Cuisine. These bite-sized puff pastries have a creamy, cheesy interior.
Use as a Pizza Topping: Our family loves pesto on pizza! I like to spread spoonfuls of nut-free pesto onto Homemade Pan Pizza fresh out of the oven before slicing and serving.
How to Make Nut-Free Pesto at Home
It honestly can't be easier to make pesto right at home. Using a food processor or a good blender, simply add all your ingredients and pulse until smooth. If needed, add a little bit of water at a time to thin it out to your desired consistency. You don't even need to chop any vegetables!
Recipe Pro Tip
- No need for a knife. We're using the leaves and stems of both the spinach and basil plants. Don't worry about trimming anything; just wash and dry well before adding to your food processor.
Recipe FAQs
You can leave it out if you want dairy-free pesto (or use a non-dairy parmesan alternative).
Yes, this sauce freezes wonderfully.
I like to add to an ice tray and then freeze until solid. Pop the individual portions out of the tray and store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 4 months.
For most recipes like pasta sauces, you can add the pesto straight from the freezer. For others (like using on bread or as a marinade) simply defrost overnight in the fridge.
Other Easy Sauce Recipes You'll Love!
If you tried this Nut-Free Spinach-Basil Pesto Recipe, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you! Thanks for visiting!
3 Minute Nut-Free Spinach Basil Pesto
Equipment
- Food Processor or strong blender
Ingredients
- 2 ounces basil leaves or 1 tbsp. basil paste
- 4 ounces spinach leaves
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 count garlic cloves
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- ¼ cup fresh parmesan
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender.2 ounces basil leaves, 4 ounces spinach leaves, ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil, 3 count garlic cloves, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, ¼ cup fresh parmesan, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Pulse/blend until smooth. If it's too thick, add a bit of water at a time until your desired consistency. Enjoy!
LaTrice says
I love Pesto and even more with the added spinach. I am so excited to try this!!!!! My boyfriend is about to think he caught him a domestic woman.
Shani W. says
Lol girl he doesnt have to knowww! I got you covered hahaha