Whole30 Classic Basil Pesto Sauce
Elevate your meals with this Whole30 Classic Basil Pesto Sauce, a dairy-free twist on the Italian classic that’s bursting with vibrant, fresh flavors. Featuring an aromatic blend of fresh basil leaves, toasted pine nuts, creamy nutritional yeast, and a bright splash of lemon juice, this recipe delivers a rich, herbaceous sauce that’s as versatile as it is delicious. Perfectly emulsified with extra-virgin olive oil, this pesto is ready in just 10 minutes and is completely Whole30-compliant, making it ideal for clean-eating enthusiasts. Serve it as a zesty topping for grilled meats, drizzle it over roasted vegetables, or toss it with spiralized veggie noodles for a healthy, flavor-packed meal. Whether you're meal prepping or enhancing a last-minute dinner, this basil pesto sauce is a must-have condiment that’s as customizable as it is crave-worthy!
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Ingredients
- 2 cups Fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup Pine nuts
- 3 large Garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Nutritional yeast
- 0.5 cup Extra-virgin olive oil
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Step 1
Start by washing and thoroughly drying 2 cups of fresh basil leaves. Remove any thick stems to ensure a smooth pesto consistency.
Step 2
In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast 1 cup of pine nuts for about 3-4 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally, until they are golden brown and fragrant. Remove from heat and let them cool.
Step 3
Peel and roughly chop 3 large garlic cloves.
Step 4
In a food processor, combine the basil leaves, toasted pine nuts, garlic, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast.
Step 5
Pulse the mixture until it forms a coarse paste.
Step 6
With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in 0.5 cup of extra-virgin olive oil until the mixture is smooth and emulsified.
Step 7
Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add 0.5 teaspoon of salt and 0.25 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Pulse a few more times to combine.
Step 8
Taste the pesto and adjust the seasoning if necessary with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice.
Step 9
Transfer the pesto to an airtight container and refrigerate. The pesto can be stored in the fridge for up to a week or frozen for longer storage.
Step 10
Use this Whole30 basil pesto sauce as a fresh topping for grilled meats, tossed with spiralized vegetables, or as a dip for raw veggies.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving size | (342.6g) |
|---|
| Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Calories | 2026.1 |
| Total Fat 211.7g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 23.1g | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 46.0g | |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 1193.6mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 29.4g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 8.1g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 5.6g | |
| Protein 24.1g | 0% |
| Vitamin D 0IU | 0% |
| Calcium 107.5mg | 0% |
| Iron 9.6mg | 0% |
| Potassium 1143.8mg | 0% |
Source of Calories