Nut Free Pesto Recipe with Basil (Easy to Make)

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Nut Free Pesto Recipe with Basil (Easy to Make)

This nut-free pesto recipe with fresh basil and parmesan cheese is easy to make and perfect for anyone with nut allergies who can’t have pine nuts. When you have a backyard garden it’s common to have a surplus of basil. This fresh pesto recipe is perfect and makes a delicious sauce for many of your favorite pasta dishes. 

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Fresh Basil Pesto Ingredients

Traditional basil pesto calls for pine nuts as an ingredient. But this easy pesto recipe is a great nut-free version for those who prefer to skip the nuts. You don’t have to have a tree nut allergy to enjoy this versatile sauce but you do need a handful of ingredients. Here is what you will need: 

• 48 grams or 1 packed cup of fresh basil
• 1 clove of fresh garlic
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp cracked pepper
• 20 grams of freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil

You will also need a high-speed blender or food processor and an airtight container or small jelly jars.

How to Make Nut Free Pesto

Start by placing the simple ingredients into the food processor or blender. First, the fresh basil, garlic clove, salt, and pepper. We plucked this basil from our home garden, here in Florida, but you can use store bought.

Add the olive oil to the blender. 

Next, add the parmesan. 

Secure the lid and blend until smooth. If the nut-free pesto seems too thick, you may add a bit more oil to the blender as needed. When you make your own pesto you have the flexibility to play around with the ingredients and get the consistency and flavor that you like the best. 

Spoon the nut-free basil pesto into an airtight container, or small jars for storing. We are using these jelly jars. 

The bright green color of the basil always seems bolder when using fresh herbs from your own garden than from the grocery store. This does not mean that you can’t use store-bought basil, of course, you can.

A little goes a long way when it comes to both traditional pesto and this nut-free pesto sauce.

Chances are that you will have leftover pesto and need to store some away for the later winter months. A great way to save this delicious recipe is to spoon some of the flavorful basil pesto into ice cube trays and freeze them for later.  

This homemade pesto is a main ingredient in this Tomato Artichoke Pesto Pasta Salad.

FAQs and Variations

• How can I get a nutty flavor without the use of pine nuts? You can try adding sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or hemp seeds to the blend.
• Can I use a different cheese besides parmesan? Sure, you can try pecorino romano, or for a vegan option, you can try nutritional yeast. 
• If I freeze the delicious homemade pesto into ice cubes how do I store them? Simply, place the pesto ice cubes into a freezer bag or zip-lock bag and keep the pesto in the freezer until you are ready to use it. 
• Can I use this nut-free basil pesto recipe to make salad dressing? Absolutely! All you have to do is add lemon juice and olive oil to the pesto for a creamy salad dressing. 
• What’s an easy way to serve this pesto? Add it to your favorite things like hot pasta and sun-dried tomatoes for example. 

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