Vegan Basil Pesto Pasta

Sometimes the simplest meals are the best. This easy basil pesto is just such meal. Made with minimal ingredients and ready in no time, this makes a great midweek meal.

WHAT IS PESTO?

Originating from Italy, pesto is a sauce made traditionally from crushed garlic, basil leaves, pine nuts, salt and a hard cheese, e.g. Parmigiano or Pecorino.

To make this vegan friendly I substituted the hard cheese with nutritional yeast to add the cheese flavour.

THE PESTO

To make the pesto all is need are:

fresh basil leaves
toasted pine nuts
fresh garlic
nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan
a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
a good extra virgin olive oil
sea salt & black pepper

You can use a pestle and mortar to pound and blend into a pesto or a blender/ food processor to blended until smooth.

Simply. Full of flavour.

DELICIOUS ADD-INS

Here are a few additional add-ins suggestions to add to your pasta:

grilled/ charred courgette slices
add a few chopped sundried or fresh tomatoes
add a few chilli flakes to your pesto
fresh peas and/or asparagus spears

NO PINE NUTS?

If you don't have pine nuts you can replace them with walnuts or pistachios.

WHAT PASTA SHAPE IS BEST TO USE?

You can use any pasta you like. I personally prefer an corkscrew shape such as trofie or fusilli, but longer cuts pasta like Bucatini, Fettuccine and spaghetti work really well too.

GREAT FOR MEAL PREP

Pesto is great to make ahead, which will save you even more time during the week.

Simply make a batch, transfer it into a sealable container, drizzle with a bit more olive oil and store it in the fridge until needed.

OTHER WAYS TO USE PESTO

Pesto is not just for pasta. Why not try these:

use as a sauce for gnocchi
spread on your sandwich
on pizza
mix a spoonful into your hummus
as a dip
use as a marinade
add to salad dressings
stir into soups and stews

VEGAN BASIL PESTO PASTA

Made with minimal ingredients and ready in no time, this makes a great midweek meal.

Serves: 3 - 4 (depending what you use it with)

Time: less than 10 min

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE PESTO

50g fresh basil leaves
30g pine nuts, toasted
1 small garlic clove, crushed
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, or more as needed
sea salt and black pepper to taste

TO SERVE

cooked pasta of your choice
fresh basil leaves
additional toasted pine nuts
3 - 4 chopped sundried tomatoes or fresh cherry tomatoes (optional)
charred/ grilled courgette slices (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Add all the pesto ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend into a paste. Add more olive oil as needed. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Add more lemon juice if needed.
Stir the pesto into your hot, cooked pasta, along with the tomatoes and courgette (if using)
Finish with more pine nuts and a few more fresh basil leaves.

Have you made this?

If you have, I would love to see your creations on Instagram.

Make sure to leave a review below and give it a rating.

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