3 Minute Nut-Free Spinach Basil Pesto

This nut-free, Spinach Basil Pesto is not only good for your tastebuds, it's good for your wallet as well. You can have a tasty sauce for your proteins, veggies, and pasta in less than 3 minutes!

I love love love pesto dishes, but why did no one tell me how expensive pine nuts are?? The classic pesto recipe is made with pine nuts, basil, and parmesan. Where I am, pine nuts in bulk go for $20+ a pound… that is ridiculous.

So I looked at my fridge and saw this beautiful bundle of green spinach, and inspiration struck. A little magic in the blender, and voila: nut-free spinach basil pesto was born!

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 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.

How to Make Nut-Free Pesto

It couldn't be easier to make pesto at home! Using a food processor or a good blender, you don't even need to chop any garlic or veggies.

1. Add all of the recipe ingredients to a food processor.
2. Blend until fully combined. Taste, and adjust any seasonings to your preference.
3. If it's too thick for your liking, add a touch of water and blend until it's your desired consistency. That's literally it!

This is a great sauce for those watching their calorie intake, as nuts are very calorie dense. Store in the fridge for up to two weeks.

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3 Minute Nut-Free Spinach Basil Pesto

Shani W.

Whip up this tasty spinach-basil pesto to use in pasta, on chicken, as a pizza sauce... It's nut-free for an allergen-friendly dressing, and the possibilities are really endless!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 3 minutes mins

Course Lunch

Servings 10 oz. jar

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups basil leaves or 1 tbsp. basil paste
• 4 cups spinach leaves
• ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 ct. garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp. lemon juice
• ¼ cup shredded parmesan
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes

Instructions

 

• Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender.
• Pulse/blend until smooth. If it's too thick, add a bit of water at a time until your desired consistency. Enjoy!

Notes

*For about $4, I bought a basil plant that grows so well in my apartment. I included the cost of basil in case you don't have one, but if you use herbs a lot, definitely look into growing your own!

Keyword Nut Free Pesto, Nut-Free, One-Bowl, Sauces, Spinach Basil Pesto

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The Coined Breakdown

• Total Cost per serving: $0.92
• Total Cost (about 10 oz.): $4.61
• Those Other Guys: $6.99 per 10 oz.