Vegan Basil Sunflower Seed Pesto (Without Pine Nuts)
Sunflower seed pesto is a delicious, 6-ingredient, frugal homemade pesto without pine nuts you can make in just 5 minutes! Perfect for pasta, sandwiches, wraps, pizza, and more!
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 462kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup of basil
- ½ cup of raw sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup of olive oil
- 3-4 cloves garlic
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- ¼ teaspoon of sugar
- ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon of nutritional yeast
- 1 Tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until creamy. Usually, 1-2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.
- Toss with warm pasta, spread on toast or pizza, or use as a dip.
Video
Notes
- To avoid darkened basil: Basil can become dark when oxidized or heated. To avoid this, you can start by processing the remaining ingredients, then adding the basil at the end to your desired consistency. Alternatively, you could blanch the basil for 30 seconds in boiling water (then transfer to an ice bath).
- Adjust the texture: Process the pesto for longer or shorter to adjust the texture.
- Alternative blending method: You could also prepare this sunflower pesto with an immersion blender. Place all the ingredients in a tall container and add a splash of water to help blend if needed. You could also make this pesto machine-free with a mortar and pestle.
- Frugal top tip: Purchasing/growing your own herbs (like basil) is a great way to save money in the long run. Pick off the leaves you need and allow them to replenish rather than having to buy it every time it’s needed.
- To thin the pesto: You can add a small amount of water. However, note that this can affect the shelf life and should be eaten within 2-3 days.
- For extra flavor: Feel free to experiment with lightly toasted sunflower seeds for additional nutty flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 462kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 26g | Sodium: 296mg | Potassium: 356mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 652IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 3mg
