Healthy Vegetarian Pesto Sauce (10 Minute Recipe)

This Healthy Vegetarian Pesto Sauce is so easy to make in just 10 minutes! Don't buy store bought pesto when you can make this fresh & fast homemade pesto. Enjoy this sauce served with pizza, pasta, sandwiches, eggs & more!

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Homemade Pesto is one of my go to recipes all Spring and Summer long. This pesto sauce recipe is made from fresh basil, parmesan cheese, olive oil, pine nuts & fresh garlic. It's the perfect quick & easy pesto recipe and it packs so much flavor!

If you love pesto recipes, make sure to check out my Creamy Pesto Gnocchi, Pesto Tortellini Salad and Pesto Chicken Sandwiches. All of these recipes are super yummy lunch or dinner ideas!

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• Why You'll Love This Recipe:
• Ingredients:
• Variations & Substitutions:
• How to Make Healthy Vegetarian Pesto Sauce:
• Expert Tips:
• Recipe FAQs:
• Storing:
• More Recipes You Will Enjoy:
• Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe:

• It takes less than 10 minutes to make!
• It's only 5 ingredients, plus salt and pepper.
• This pesto sauce is vegetarian friendly.
• While pesto is higher in calories than some other sauces due to the olive oil, it is packed with healthy ingredients. Plus, you don't need much for a total flavor boost.
• This recipe will stay good in the fridge for up to a week, so you can use it over and over for foods like pasta & pizza or even with eggs and toast in the morning.

Ingredients:

Fresh Basil- Fresh herb with savory and sweet flavors with notes of pepper. Basil is one of my favorite spices to pair with anything Italian. I plant two basil plants in my garden every Spring, so that I can take advantage of the taste all Spring and Summer long. Basil is high in Vitamin A & K and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese- An Italian cheese known for its salty nutty flavor profile. It's important to use the real stuff here, even if you are on a budget. You will not get the desired flavor from a fake bottled cheese here. If you look in the fresh cheese section in the grocery store, you will usually find smaller cuts that won't break the bank.

Olive Oil- The base of the pesto and combines all of the ingredients into the perfect texture. Consider using a higher quality extra virgin olive oil in pesto, since it's such a main ingredient. Olive Oil is high in fat, but don't worry, it's the good kind-monounsaturated. Olive Oil also contains antioxidants and is known to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Pine Nuts- To add bulk and structure to the pesto sauce along with a creamy texture. Pine nuts are full of healthy fat, protein, and vitamins, like Vitamin K.

Garlic- Adds a strong Italian flavor and since it is used raw, it adds a bit a spiciness into the pesto sauce recipe. An article from RealSimple.com titled 6 Powerful Health Benefits of Garlic states that garlic is nutrient dense, reduces risk of heart disease, is full of antioxidants and that it is immune system boosting.

Variations & Substitutions:

• Different types of nuts can be used to replace the pine nuts in this recipe. Some popular options are walnuts, pecans or even sunflower seeds. I prefer the traditional pine nuts, but these are extra options.
• If you are looking for a deeper flavor, you can roast the pine nuts in a skillet over medium low heat for 3 to 4 minutes, tossing them often. Immediately transfer to a bowl to stop the cooking process and allow them to cool before mixing into the food processor.
• If you don't have a food processor, consider using a blender or even an immersion blender can work. Just be careful not to over mix, as this can cause a bitter flavor to develop.
• Short on basil and looking for extra veggie pesto? Use 1 cup of basil leaves with 1 cup of baby spinach for the added health benefits.

How to Make Healthy Vegetarian Pesto Sauce:

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Here are the Step by Step Instructions to make this Vegetarian Pesto:

Step 1: Add the Ingredients Into the Food Processor

Place the basil, garlic, pine nuts, cheese and salt and pepper in the food processor.

Give it a few pulses to combine the ingredients.

Step 2: Pour in Olive Oil

While the food processor is on low, slowly pour in olive oil. Turn on high for a few seconds, then pulse about 10 times to puree the pesto sauce.

Step 3: Enjoy!

Spread onto bread, sandwiches and pizza. Toss into pasta recipes or even dollop on eggs. There are so many ways to enjoy this pesto sauce.

Expert Tips:

• Do not over blend in the food processor to avoid a bitter taste.
• It is extremely important to use a real parmesan cheese in this recipe. Do not buy pre-shredded cheese in the store. This has preservatives and doesn't blend as well in the recipe.
• Pine nuts can be expensive. If you are on a budget, look in the baking isle for the small nut bags used for baking. Sometimes you can find pine nuts here. You only need 2 tablespoons in this recipe, so it's a great way to save money by not having a purchase a big expensive bag.

Recipe FAQs:

Storing:

Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to one week.

More Recipes You Will Enjoy:

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