10 Best Raw Vegan Pesto Recipes (2024)

If you know me, you’ll know I’m all about the greens.

I could write a book about the benefits of leafy greens, but all I’ll say now is that if you start adding 1-2 pounds (500g to 1kg) of leafy greens to your diet every day, you’ll see your life change for the better.

Benefits include fast weight loss due to the abundance of thylakoids which suppress the appetite.

The high amounts of magnesium in the leafy greens will help you sleep well, calm your anxiety and reduce your stress.

** Please note that this post may contain affiliate links which means that I can receive a small payment if you make a purchase through my links.

The plant based calcium will protect your bones, giving you stronger teeth and nails, and won’t strip your body of nutrients like dairy does.

This is just the tip of the iceberg (lettuce!) in terms of the benefits leafy greens can bring to your health.

So why aren’t we all including more leafy greens in our diets?

Most people would tell you that they just don’t like the taste of texture or munching through mounds of leafy greens every day.

So how do we get in more leafy greens in our diet without spending all day chewing?

  1. Make a Green Thickie for breakfast and lunch
  2. Take a green powder or green juice
  3. Make a pesto for your dinner and add it to a salad or zucchini/courgette noodles for even more veggie nutrient power.

You can find links to my Green Thickies and recommended green powder above, but in this post we’re focusing on pesto.

Here are 10 of my favourite raw vegan pesto recipes. Just add one of these recipes to your diet every day for a week and really notice the difference.

Enjoy!

10 Best Raw Vegan Pesto Recipes

1) Easy Vegan Pesto (5 Minutes!)

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The easiest vegan pesto in 5 minutes! Cheesy and flavorful despite being dairy-free, plus an option for lower oil/fat. It’s the perfect plant-based spread for Italian dishes and more!

~Dana, MINIMALIST BAKER

2) Avocado Pesto Sauce (Nut-free, Vegan)

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Free of nuts, dairy and oils, this pesto sauce can be enjoyed quite liberally over your favorite noodles and veggies.A ripe avocado lends its smooth and creamy texture to this rich sauce, and is complimented with fresh basil, garlic and lemon juice.

~Megan, DETOXINISTA

3) Vegan And Oil Free Pesto With Basil And Avocado

10 Best Raw Vegan Pesto Recipes (5)

This simple recipe for oil free pesto is totally vegan and features basil, cashew nuts and avocado. It’s a super simple, staple dinner that’s whipped up in no time!

~Lauren, LAUREN CARIS COOKS

4) Vegan Avocado Pesto (Raw Glutenfree)

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Easy creamy Vegan Avocado Pesto recipe. Enjoy it with Italian pasta, spread it on bread, veggies, burgers and make your simple vegan gluten free dinner!

~Fran, BEAUTY FOOD BLOG

5) Raw Vegan Pesto With Zucchini

10 Best Raw Vegan Pesto Recipes (7)Italian pesto is traditionally made with lots of parmesan cheese. This new pesto recipe tastes like the Italian version everyone loves, but it’s vegan and Paleo-friendly!

~Dawn, SMALL FOOTPRINT FAMILY

6) Creamy Avocado Basil Pesto

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Avocados are the best for acreamy pasta sauce – nothing compares to it! Whip up this avocado basil pesto and toss your favorite noodles in.

~Amanda, RAWMANDA

7) Vegan Walnut Pesto

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Using walnuts in place of pine nuts makes this pesto more accessible and slightly more affordable without losing any flavor. Walnuts are widely used in Italy and favored for their rich yet delicate flavors.

~Rika & Doni, VEGAN MIAM

8) Raw Vegan Pesto

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This raw vegan pesto really is one of those dishes that not only tastes good, but is super good for you too.

~Nikkie, EATING VIBRANTLY

9) Everyday Vegan Pesto

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All you need to make your pesto is a food processor. You simply add everything in, blend it up, then drizzle in your olive oil. It seriously couldn’t be easier.

~Alyssa, SIMPLY QUINOA

10) Easy Vegan Kale & Cashew Pesto

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Classic pesto gets a delicious vegan makeover in this recipe and becomes even healthier with the addition of kale leaves. Spread it on sandwiches, add to soups and pastas – the choice is yours!

~Alina, VEGAN RUNNER EATS

After my 10 months on a raw food diet and throwing an epic raw food party for a big crowd, I released my own raw food recipe book for parties. You can get that at a discount by clicking here.

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Which of these pesto recipes appeals to you the most? Let me know in the comments down below…

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I have lost 6lbs, do not feel like I need more my morning coffee, the flushing of my facial skin from rosacea has dramatically reduced and I am so excited to wake up each morning and make a green thickie for breakfast!!

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Katherine Kyle @ Green Thickies

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Katherine lost 56 pounds and recovered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Green Thickies.
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10 Best Raw Vegan Pesto Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can you use pesto uncooked? ›

Yes, pesto can be used straight from the jar and doesn't require cooking or heating. In fact, we actively discourage applying too much heat to pesto, as this will destroy many of the fresh flavours that producers work so hard to retain.

How long does vegan pesto last in the fridge? ›

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.

Is Barilla vegan pesto healthy? ›

Made with fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, and nutritional yeast, this pesto sauce is packed with flavor and nutrition. Toss it with your favorite pasta and some fresh veggies for a satisfying and nutritious meal that's perfect for any occasion.

Will lemon juice keep pesto green? ›

How to Use Lemon Juice to Keep Pesto Green. Another way to prevent basil oxidation? Lower its pH with lemon juice. Browning happens most readily at neutral pH, so making the pesto's pH more acidic can help slow down this process.

Why should you not heat pesto? ›

PESTO SHOULD NEVER BE “COOKED”. If you cook Pesto Sauce, you change the make up of the fresh basil and cause it to turn darker in color. It is best to warm it up and use it at room temperature. If it needs to be thinned out, you can do so by adding a little water, chicken stock, cream or white wine.

What happens if you don't refrigerate pesto after opening? ›

While your pesto can safely reside in your pantry until its first use, forgetting to refrigerate it after opening is guaranteed to spoil it long before the five-day mark. It's also best to seal and refrigerate your jar of sauce right after using, as exposure to oxygen can speed up the spoiling process.

Does vegan pesto go bad? ›

You can tell that pesto has gone bad if it changes color from green to brown or black. Once you notice it's changed its color from green to brown then it's time to say goodbye to your condiment.

What is a good substitute for Parmesan cheese in pesto? ›

The Cheeses You Can Use Instead Of Parmesan For Pesto
  • Pecorino Romano. barmalini/Shutterstock. One of the first cheeses that jumps to mind is Pecorino Romano. ...
  • Manchego. Picture Partners/Shutterstock. Another sheep's milk stand-in, this one from Spain, is Manchego. ...
  • Cotija. Marcos Castillo/Shutterstock.
Feb 2, 2023

Is Costco pesto vegan? ›

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.

Is it OK to eat pesto everyday? ›

You'll want to be mindful of the sodium content. Some jars have more than 500mg per serving and the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines recommend you eat no more than 2,300mg per day. It would be hard to stay within those guidelines if you get more than 20% of your sodium from pesto.

Why did my pesto turn black? ›

Probably oxidation from the basil starting to turn. You could try adding a little lemon juice to slow the process and maintain freshness but homemade pesto isn't going to keep for more than a few days.

Why does my homemade pesto taste bad? ›

The most common reason for pesto tasting bitter is that the olive oil is past its best and has started to turn rancid. If the pesto has been made in a food processor or blender, there's also the possibility that it has turned bitter from the crude, sheering action of the blades.

Why add ice to pesto? ›

The ice will shock the herbs and prevent them from browning.

Does pesto need cooking? ›

Originating in Genoa, Italy, pesto was traditionally made by crushing the ingredients with a mortar and pestle. Now it's typically done with the convenience of electric tools like a food processor or blender. You don't need to cook it at all, unless you want to roast the garlic first.

Should I cook store-bought pesto? ›

No, you should never heat fresh pesto before adding it to pasta, although with the jarred alternative, we're a little more relaxed.

Can you cook store-bought pesto? ›

No matter how you use it, this might be the most fundamental tip of all when it comes to adding flavor to store-bought pesto: never heat or cook your pesto sauce.

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