Skip to content
Forkin
Sauce

Vegan Pesto Genovese

This vibrant vegan pesto captures the classic flavors of Genoa without dairy. Fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, and nutritional yeast are blended with olive oil to create a rich and aromatic sauce. It's perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or as a spread.

An original recipe by Forkin

Total time
10 min
Serves
4
Difficulty
Easy
Per serving
372 kcal
VeganVegetarianGluten-free

Allergen information: may contain nuts and tree nuts. Always check ingredient packaging if you have an allergy.

Vegan Pesto Genovese

Mise en place

Ingredients

  • 2 cupfresh basil leaves, packed
  • 0.33 cuppine nut
  • 2 clovegarlic
  • 3 tbspnutritional yeast
  • 0.5 cupextra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsplemon juice
  • 0.5 tspsalt
  • 0.25 tspblack pepper

Equipment

food processor

The method

Step by step

  1. 1

    Add the fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to a food processor.

    About 1 min

    Cook’s note: Ensure your basil is thoroughly dry after washing to prevent a watery pesto.

  2. 2

    Pulse the ingredients a few times until roughly chopped.

    About 1 min

  3. 3

    With the food processor running on low, slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil until a smooth, vibrant green paste forms.

    About 5 min

    Cook’s note: Adding the oil slowly helps emulsify the pesto, creating a creamier texture.

  4. 4

    Scrape down the sides of the food processor as needed to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.

    About 1 min

  5. 5

    Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, adding more salt or lemon juice to your preference.

    About 2 min

Per serving

Nutrition

57%Score
Calories
371.8kcal
Protein
7.9g
Carbs
7.4g
Fat
36.1g
Fibre
3g
Sugar
0.6g

Estimated from the recipe’s ingredient quantities. Values can vary with brands and substitutions.

Keep it good

Storage

Store leftover pesto in an airtight container in the refrigerator, with a thin layer of olive oil on top to prevent browning.

Reheating

Empty string if eaten cold