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    Home » Sauces + Dips

    Oil-Free Vegan Pesto (with Arugula and Basil)

    Modified: Sep 21, 2022 | Published: Apr 28, 2020 by Bree Sheree

    532 shares

    This post contains affiliate links for which I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) should you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my disclaimer for more information.

    Jump to Recipe
    Pesto sauce in a bowl and pesto pasta with text that says Pesto Sauce or Dip Vegan and oil-free.
    Pesto pasta in a bowl and a spoonful of pesto with text that says Vegan Pesto!.
    Vegan pesto is a small bowl next to baked tortilla chips with text that says Pesto.

    This vegan pesto sauce is oil-free and so flavourful. It is made with pumpkin seeds and pine nuts, for a thicker, nuttier pesto that is also great as a dip.

    Oil-free vegan pesto in a white dish with ingredients on the table surrounding it, including basil, arugula, pepitas, pine nuts, nutritional yeast, and a lemon.

    What is pesto?

    Pesto is a green sauce that originated in Italy. It is commonly used as a pasta sauce or in sandwiches.

    A classic pesto will typically contain basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, and parmesan cheese.

    Many variations of these classic ingredients now exist. Pine nuts can be switched out for a variety of different nuts or seeds, such as pumpkin seeds, walnuts, almonds, or cashews. The basil can also be substituted for pretty much any leafy green. Some options include spinach, arugula, dandelion greens or kale.

    Thick green vegan pesto on a spoon, laying on a marble surface.

    How to make a vegan pesto

    As mentioned, pesto recipes often include parmesan cheese. To make a pesto recipe vegan, it is usually as simple as omitting the cheese and adding a bit of nutritional yeast for a slightly cheesy flavour.

    To make it whole-foods plant-based (which is what I always do!), the oil will have to be omitted as well. Simply add some water in place of the oil and your pesto will still taste delicious!

    Ingredients for pesto in a food processor, including basil, arugula, pine nuts, pepitas, and nutritional yeast.

    Ingredients for this pesto

    This pesto is of course vegan and whole-foods plant-based (wfpb). I used both pine nuts and pepitas to give it a nuttier flavour and thicker texture, and for greens I used both basil and arugula.

    Here is a list of the ingredients you need (keep scrolling for the full recipe):

    • Sweet basil
    • Arugula
    • Pepitas
    • Pine nuts
    • Nutritional yeast
    • Garlic cloves
    • Lemon juice
    • Water

    Making oil-free pesto

    To make this pesto, you simply need to add all the ingredients to a food processor and blend! Because the recipe is oil-free, you will need to add some water to thin it out and get it blending.

    I recommend starting with ¼ cup of water for this specific recipe. After blending with ¼ cup water, you can slowly add more water in increments if the texture is too thick for your liking.

    This pesto recipe is thicker than most because it has a higher concentration of nuts and a lower concentration of leafy greens compared to most pesto recipes.

    Close up of pesto on a tortilla chip, with ingredients in the background.

    How to use it

    One thing I love about pesto is that it is super versatile. Not only can you swap out the ingredients for various substitutions, but you can also use it in so many ways!

    Here are some ideas for how to use this pesto:

    • On pasta
    • As a dip for tortilla chips
    • As a veggie dip
    • As a spread in a wrap or sandwich
    • On pizza
    • In a burger
    Pesto sauce on penne pasta in a white bowl, with pesto ingredients in the background.

    Substitutions and Adjustments

    Because pesto is so versatile, substitutions can be easily made.

    This recipe uses both pine nuts and pepitas, but you could use just one or the other. Pine nuts are quite expensive, so you could replace them for more pepitas.

    This recipe also uses a combination of arugula and basil. These could also be substituted for each other. So you could use just basil, or just arugula, but I love the combination of both!

    For the garlic, add as much as you like. I recommend starting with 2 garlic cloves, then taste the pesto and add more if desired. I personally enjoy using 4 cloves for a stronger flavour.

    Check out these other vegan dips and sauces:

    • Black Bean Guacamole
    • Dill Pickle Hummus
    • Vegan Tzatziki
    • Black Bean Hummus Dip
    • Sweet Potato Sauce

    Recipe

    vegan pesto in a small white dish, surrounded by pine nuts, pepitas, garlic, basil, and lemon on the table.
    Print Recipe

    Oil-Free Vegan Pesto (with Arugula and Basil)

    This vegan pesto sauce is oil-free and so flavourful. It is made with pumpkin seeds and pine nuts, for a thicker, nuttier pesto that is also great as a dip.
    Total Time15 minutes mins
    Course: Condiment, Dip, Sauce
    Cuisine: Italian, Vegan
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 120kcal
    Author: Bree Sheree

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup sweet basil loosely packed, 10 grams
    • 1 cup arugula loosely packed, 20 grams
    • ½ cup pepitas
    • ¼ cup pine nuts
    • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
    • 2-4 garlic cloves*
    • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
    • ¼ - ½ cup water

    Instructions

    • Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender or food processor and blend until the nuts and seeds are fully broken down and your desired texture of pesto is reached.

    Notes

    *The number of garlic cloves will depend on your personal preference. I recommend starting with two, then do a taste test and add more if desired.
    This is quite a thick pesto, which makes it great as a dip. If you want to thin it out a bit more to use it as a pasta sauce, just add some more water. Start with ¼ of water, and slowly add more as needed.
    Makes approximately ¾-1 cup of pesto.
    Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 120kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 217mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 277IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Nutrition information is an estimate generated from a nutrition calculator. There may be errors here or variations based on ingredients you use.

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