Vegan Arugula Pesto

Vegan Arugula Pesto is my go-to pasta sauce! It’s also delicious on pizzas and sandwiches. This recipe is super easy to make, and it comes together in a matter of minutes. In addition to arugula, this non-dairy pesto sauce also contains fresh basil, lemon juice, pine nuts, and garlic. This easy recipe is dairy-free and gluten-free.

What is Pesto?

Traditional pesto is made with basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, and parmesan cheese. It originated in Genoa, Italy, and the word “pesto” comes from the Italian word pestare, which means “to pound or crush.” Originally, the ingredients were crushed together with a mortar and pestle.

These days, it’s much easier to make pesto in a food processor than with a mortar and pestle. It whips up easily in just a minute or two.

Pesto is the Besto

I didn’t grow up eating adventurously, so I didn’t try pesto until I was in my 20s. In fact, I don’t think I had even heard of it until I was in my 20s. I first tried it at a small Italian place down the street that made fresh pasta and sauces, and after I discovered it, I began eating there often. I was in the early days of my vegetarianism, and finding restaurants that had food I could chose from wasn’t easy, but their menu had tons of vegetarian options.

After having a few visits where I had ordered my standard ravioli with tomato sauce, I began to branch out and try different types of pastas and sauces. Pesto sounded good, so I why not try it? After just a few bites, I was hooked. Pesto quickly became my sauce of choice for pasta.

Vegan Arugula Pesto

While I know that basil is traditional, I like to play with the leafy greens that I use to make pesto. I love to use kale, spinach, and even broccoli. One of my favorite greens for pesto is arugula.

In this vegan Arugula Pesto recipe, I use nutritional yeast to mimic the cheese that classic pesto recipes call for. I’ve stuck with traditional pine nuts, but I have been known to mix it up and use pistachios or even pumpkin seeds.

How to Make Vegan Arugula Pesto

This recipe couldn't be easier!

• First you place all of the ingredients except the olive oil in your food processor and process until it's chopped and mixed together.
• Then, with the processor on, you drizzle the olive oil into the processor from the top. Process for another few seconds, until it's all incorporated.

I will admit that although I include measurements here, I often just grab handfuls of greens and add them to the food processor. I then add the nutritional yeast, nuts, and lemon juice to taste, so you don’t really need to be a stickler for amounts when making this.

How to Customize Your Vegan Pesto

You can easily make this recipe your own!

• If you don't like arugula, you can use spinach or baby kale in this recipe.
• Instead of pine nuts, you can use cashews or almonds.
• Pumpkin or sunflower seeds can be substituted if you have a nut allergy.

While I do like to top my pasta with vegan arugula pesto, I also like to mix things up and spread it on pizzas or add it to grilled tofu sandwiches. It’s great as a spread on bread as appetizer or snack, too!

Vegan Arugula Pesto

Dianne

This vegan Arugula Pesto is my go-to pasta sauce! It’s also great on pizzas and sandwiches.This recipe makes about a cup of pesto. A serving is ¼ cup.

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Condiment

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4 servings

Calories 162 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 cups fresh basil tightly packed
• 2 cups arugula tightly packed
• ⅓ cup pine nuts
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

 

• Combine the basil, arugula, pine nuts, garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and salt in a food processor until finely chopped and mixed together. With the processor running, add the olive oil and continue processing until thoroughly combined.

Calories: 162kcal

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Use Your Pesto in These Recipes:

• Zucchini Noodles
• Potato, Pesto, and Arugula Pizza
• Pasta and Pesto
• Green and White Pizza

Other sauce recipes you might enjoy include:

• Spinach Pesto
• Green Goddess Dressing
• Cashew Cheese Sauce
• Easy Romesco