• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Ooh La La It's Vegan
  • Home
  • About Meabout me icon
  • Blogblog icon for menu
  • Contact Us
  • Recipes
  • Photographyphotography icon for blog menu
  • Subscribesubscribe icon for blog menu
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Aboutabout me icon
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Recipes
  • Blogblog icon for menu
  • Subscribesubscribe icon for blog menu
  • Photographyphotography icon for blog menu
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Easy 5-Minute Walnut Pesto

    Published: Jan 16, 2018 · Modified: Feb 18, 2023 by Deborah · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

     This flavorful vegan Walnut Pesto is rich with essential nutrients and takes only 5 minutes to make. Pair it with pasta. use it as a pizza sauce or spread it on panini; however you enjoy it, it's a recipe you'll revisit time and again. Vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free. 

    A close up of a bowl of pesto sauce in a white bowl

    OOOh la la, I love a good pesto sauce, don't you? Tangy, zesty, nutty, I can't say enough about this Vegan Walnut Pesto which brings a new twist to your traditional pesto sauce.

    Unlike traditional pesto sauce made with Parmesan cheese and pine nuts, this delicious Vegan Walnut Pesto skips the dairy but adds a powerful nutritional kick with walnuts and a secret ingredient. What is so secret about it? I'm so glad you asked, please read on.

    A bowl of pesto sauce on a plate

    Health Benefits of Vegan Walnut Pesto

    Basil, roasted walnuts, garlic, a sprinkle of sea salt, a splash of lemon juice, olive oil, a little vegetable broth and a secret ingredient. You're only 8 ingredients away from a Vegan Walnut Pesto that's loaded with vitamins and essential nutrients.

    Basil

    Such a fragrant herb, I bought a live basil plant to use in this walnut pesto but I hated to cut the leaves, it was so beautiful. The health benefits of basil are plentiful. Take a look at some of them below:

    • acts as natural pain reliever (Source)
    • contains disease-fighting antioxidant and antimicrobial effects.(Source)
    • powerful antiviral properties to fight viruses and infections (Source)
    • may help reduce the risk of certain diseases, including cancer, heart disease and other inflammatory disorders (Source)

    Roasted Walnuts

    To bring out the flavor of walnuts used in this recipe, you should roast them for about 10 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Why add walnuts to a pesto recipe? Take a look at how healthy walnuts are:(Source)

    • Traditionally known for containing essential fatty acids, especially their lipid profile, which is related to a wide array of biological properties and health-promoting effects.
    • Contain a variety of other bioactive compounds, such as vitamin E and polyphenols.
    • May help fight cancer, heart and neurodegenerative diseases.

    Garlic

    Typically, I use a lot of garlic in my recipes. Not only do I love its robust flavor, but this little bulb's health benefits are numerous:

    • Long been used medicinally, most recently for its cardiovascular, antineoplastic (anti-cancer), and antimicrobial properties. (Source)
    • Fresh garlic is associated with a reduced risk of stroke and heart attack. (Source).
    • Superior to a placebo in lowering blood pressure. (Source)

    Sea Salt

    The nutritional wealth of sea salt includes vital minerals like sodium, potassium,calcium, magnesium, bromide, chloride, iron, copper, and zinc among other beneficial elements. (Source)

    Read on for the secret ingredient!

    Walnut Pesto

    Vegan Walnut Pesto Zoodles

    The Secret Ingredient: Nutritional Yeast

    Vegans and non-vegans alike tend to freak out about the lack of vitamin B12 in a vegan diet. Introducing nutritional yeast, the answer to the B12 issue:

    • Powerful probiotic effects which help prevent and treat intestinal diseases and boost the immune system. (Source)
    • Brings a nutty, cheesy taste to foods that many people love.
    • Is naturally rich in B vitamins including B1 (thiamine), B2(riboflavin), B5 (pantothenic acid) and B6 (pyridoxine). These vitamins support the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins to provide energy for the body.
    • (Source)
    • Many brands of nutritional yeast are fortified with nutrients, including folate and vitamin B12. (Source)

    To learn more about the health benefits of nutritional yeast, read 7 Reasons Why I Love Nutritional Yeast.

    Have you tried this? Why not leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, and sign up for my newsletter!

    📖 Recipe

    Walnut Pesto

    5-Minute Vegan Pesto Recipe

    This easy vegan pesto takes only 5 minutes to prepare and is packed with dense nutrients. Tasty, nutty, fragrant, delicious. You won't be able to get enough of it! 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Italian
    Diet: Low Calorie, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 144kcal
    Author: Deborah
    Cost: $6

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups fresh basil pack it down
    • ½ rounded cup roasted walnuts
    • 4 cloves garlic whole
    • 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice about ½ medium-sized lemon
    • ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
    • ¼ cup vegetable broth you can also use plain water
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    For the Walnuts

    • Before starting, preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add walnuts and roast for 10 minutes until fragrant and toasty. This step is optional but it really brings out the flavor of the walnuts. 

    For the Vegan Walnut Pesto

    • Add basil, walnuts, garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon juice and sea salt to food processor. Pulse for about 2 minutes until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed together. 
    • Drizzle in olive oil through opening in lid and pulse for another minute or two. You should now have a creamy mixture of walnut pesto sauce but it's still probably too thick. 
    • Add vegetable broth a little at a time and pulse until desired thickness is reached, usually about 2 to 3 minutes. Add to your favorite recipe or  use as a dip for bagel chips or another healthy snack cracker. Serve immediately. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 292mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 634IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @oohlalaitsvegan or tag #oohlalaitsvegan!

    More Recipes

    • vegan-bbq-ideas collage for Pinterest
      30 Easy Vegan BBQ Ideas For Summer Parties
    • side view of layered drink on a festive table
      Red White and Blue Cocktail
    • collage of vegan brunch recipes
      25 Delicious Vegan Brunch Recipes
    • 2 glasses of red beverage on a white table
      Easy Tinto de Verano Recipe (Spanish Red Wine Cocktail)

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Debbye Jean!

    A BSN registered nurse and crazy vegan foodie, food photographer and recipe creator! I find the ultimate joy and comfort spending time in my kitchen sharing recipes with friends and family and I'd love to share my passion with you. Whether you're vegan, vegan-curious, or just cravin' more plants in your daily diet, let me show you how delicious plant-based eating can be so we can stay vibrant and healthy and do our part to reduce the suffering of animals used for food consumption worldwide.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • overhead view of a plate of green asparagus with a yellow sauce
      Vegan Hollandaise Sauce Over Grilled Asparagus
    • overhead view of pot of stroganoff
      One-Pot Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff (With Creamy Marsala Sauce)
    • side view of blue kamikaze shot in a shot glass with wedge of lime
      Blue Kamikaze Shot - 3 Ingredients
    • stack of vegan shortbread cookies on a white table
      Lavender Shortbread Cookies You Can't Resist

    4th of July

    • overhead shot of potato salad recipe
      Best Vegan Potato Salad Recipe
    • hand holding grilled portobello mushroom burger with all the trimmings
      Epic Portobello Mushroom Burger | Grilled, Oven or Stovetop
    • overhead view of grilled corn with parmesan
      Mesquite-Grilled Corn On The Cob (With Cilantro Lime Avocado Sauce & Vegan Parmesan)
    • hand reaching in to grab one of 4 different carrot dogs
      Grilled Carrot Dogs 4 Ways (Carrot Hot Dogs)

    Never Miss a Recipe!

    Every week I send out new vegan recipes directly to your inbox. It's free. No spam. Unsubscribe whenever you want!

    Thank you for subscribing.

    banner showing where my blog has been featured in

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up Now!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE, I EARN A SMALL COMMISSION, AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU, FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.

    Copyright © 2023 Ooh La La It’s Vegan on the Foodie Pro Theme