A 10-Minute Recipe for Vegan Pesto Sauce (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan pesto made of? ›

The base is fresh basil, pine nuts, and garlic with a splash of lemon juice for acidity and brightness. For that cheesy color and flavor, I rely on nutritional yeast, which is a man-made yeast that can be high in B12 (depending on the brand).

Traditional pesto is a blend of fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, extra-virgin olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. With a food processor, it comes together in just a few steps: Pulse the nuts, lemon juice, and garlic in the food processor until they're finely chopped. Add the basil and pulse again.

Sadly, classic basil pesto is not vegan because it contains Parmesan and Pecorino, which are both cheeses made from dairy. However, there are plenty of vegan pesto sauces available, many of which use nutritional yeast to replicate the taste of cheese.

How long does vegan pesto last? Fresh pesto will store well in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Keep a layer of plastic wrap pressed directly onto the top of the pesto so it doesn't brown.

“I just find that sweet white miso is the best substitute for Parmesan.” Miso Master is her brand of choice because of its mild flavor and aerated texture, which keeps the sauce light and creamy. “You get a little sweetness and a ton of umami,” she says.

Almonds. My personal favorite, almonds make an excellent substitute for pine nuts in pesto because of their mild, nutty flavor. I like to buy sliced, raw almonds and toast them myself in a pan on medium-low heat. Toasting almonds gives them a depth of flavor that makes just about any dish taste incredible.

Most pesto is not considered vegan for the sole reason that basic recipes call for some kind of hard cheese like Parmesan or pecorino, which is not suitable for vegans. Some authentic Parmesan is even made using rennet, an enzyme found in the lining of a goat or calf's stomach.

Add a pinch of salt if the basil tastes too bitter or the pesto needs more zing. Add more Parmesan if you'd like a creamier/cheesier pesto. If desired, you can thin out the pesto with more olive oil.

Sacla Vegan Basil Pesto 190G - Tesco Groceries.

What part of pesto is not vegan? ›

Traditional pesto sauce contains Parmesan cheese, which is made using animal rennet. Rennet is a complex of enzymes produced in the stomachs of ruminant mammals and is used to coagulate milk during the cheese-making process.

Hummus is a vegan staple that allows you to have some versatility in your diet. It's an immensely popular food amongst vegans so you may have found a new favourite yourself. It's available in a wide range of flavours and is very versatile in the kitchen so you can experiment with it if you wish to.

Barilla Vegan Basil Pesto has an intense basil flavour and creamy texture, just like our Pesto Genovese. Made without any cheese or dairy substitutes, Vegan Basil Pesto is the perfect choice for both lactose intolerant and vegan guests.

After pesto has been opened and refrigerated, it can generally last for about 4 to 7 days [3]. However, the exact shelf life may vary depending on the type of pesto and whether it is commercially bottled or homemade.

This product is not vegan as it lists 6 ingredients that derive from animals and 2 ingredients that could derive from animals depending on the source.

The reason is because classic basil pesto contains pecorino and Parmigiano-Reggiano, which are both made from milk curdled in animal rennet. That means that most of the pesto sauces you see on supermarket shelves are not vegetarian.

Most pesto is not considered vegan for the sole reason that basic recipes call for some kind of hard cheese like Parmesan or pecorino, which is not suitable for vegans. Some authentic Parmesan is even made using rennet, an enzyme found in the lining of a goat or calf's stomach.