This creamy Avocado Basil Pesto can be used on pasta, in sandwiches, or as a dip. It comes together in about 5 minutes!
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This Avocado Basil Pesto will take your vegan sandwich to a whole other level. It's great on cooked pasta or served as a dip with vegan vegetable fritters, crackers, or veggies.
This vegan avocado pesto recipe is rich and creamy. It comes together in minutes.
Use it in a Pesto Potato Salad recipe or a Vegan Avocado Pesto Sandwich.
You might also like my Basil Dill Dressing or my Veggie Sandwich with Pesto Hummus.
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❤️ Why You'll Love It
- It's rich and has a creamy consistency. The entire family will love it!
- It's a vegan recipe that is made in minutes.
- It is really versatile. You can use it in potato salad, sandwiches, pasta, or pizza.
🧾 Ingredients
- Fresh avocado: A ripe avocado adds a creamy texture.
- Fresh basil leaves: Basil is a classic ingredient in pesto. You could add other fresh herbs, like cilantro, parsley, or tarragon if you like.
- Fresh lemon juice: Adds a tangy flavor.
- Nutritional yeast: Adds a cheesy flavor. You could also use store-bought or homemade vegan parmesan cheese.
- Pine nuts: Are another classic ingredient in pesto. You could use almonds, walnuts, or pistachios instead.
- Olive oil: Adds a creamy texture and flavor.
- Fresh garlic clove: Adds a pungent flavor. You could also add red pepper flakes for a little spice.
- Salt: Enhances flavors. I like to use sea salt.
To see the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Do I Have to Use Pine Nuts?
Absolutely not. You could use walnuts, pistachios, or almonds in this recipe.
Some people are allergic to pine nuts, and they are expensive, so feel free to use your favorite nuts.
Is Nutritional Yeast Necessary?
In my opinion, nutritional yeast is the best option for this recipe. It's a great substitute for parmesan cheese, which is what's in traditional pesto.
You could try store-bought vegan parmesan. I've never had it, so I don't even know what ingredients are in it, but I'm sure it would make a great substitute for nutritional yeast.
You could leave it out altogether, but it does impart a nice "cheesy" flavor.
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🔪 Instructions
Step 1: Add avocado, fresh basil, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, and salt to a food processor.
Step 2: Mix until smooth and creamy.
🥡 Storage
The leftover pesto will last 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. I actually had mine a little longer and it tasted great, but I like to give the range for the best time to eat it.
Since it will turn brown from oxidization, mix it well when eating leftovers. This will bring forth the greener parts underneath to the forefront.
How to Keep It From Turning Brown
The way I got the homemade pesto to stay green longer is by adding lemon juice. I tried placing plastic wrap directly on top in a sealed container, but that didn't work.
I read that blanching the basil for 30 seconds in boiling water and then shock it in cold water also works, but I haven't tried that method yet.
🍽 Serving
- On your favorite pasta
- On zucchini noodles
- As a dip
- In Vegan Pesto Potato Salad recipe
- In a Vegan Caprese Sandwich or Vegan Pesto Grilled Cheese
- On pizza
- Mixed in a tofu scramble
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
This avocado basil pesto is made with avocado, fresh basil, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, nutritional yeast, and pine nuts.
Nutritional yeast is a good substitute for parmesan because it has a salty cheesy flavor.
Other Vegan Pesto Recipes
🎥 Video
If you tried this Avocado Basil Pesto Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let me know how you like it in the 💬 comments below. I love hearing from you!
This recipe was originally published on April 18, 2015. I've added new photos, more text, and a video.
📋 Recipe
Avocado Basil Pesto
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh basil loosely packed
- 2 avocados (2 cups)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a food processor and mix until smooth.
Notes
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Nutrition
*Note: Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only. Different nutrition calculators give you different results.
cheerandcherry says
Great recipe! I love healthy food ideas.
Melissa says
Excellent, I was just wondering what to do with the last of my basil plant before the winter gets really cold and kills it.
Willow Moon says
Basil is good in sun-dried tomato and basil hummus too, which is my favorite flavor.
Raman says
I would like to try this, but with the yeast replaced with the original ingredient!
Willow Moon says
Nutritional yeast is definitely an acquired taste!
LaKisha Riddick says
I just received a food processor for Christmas. I'll pin this recipe to try later!
Sam - Journo and the Joker says
I also love dips! Very hard to come by here in Cambodia and I haven't got around to making my own. But I really must! I would never have thought of this combination. It looks delicious.
Willow Moon says
They are so easy to throw together! Good to know that they are hard to come by in Cambodia - probably the case in other countries as well. Useful information in case I travel to that part of the world!
Brittany Zick says
Ugh this looks so delicious. And I wouldn't feel guilty for eating a whole bowl!
Willow Moon says
I could eat a whole bowl full too!
Michelle says
Mmm, two of my favorite things together! Sounds delish!
Kristie says
Love all the ingredients, so I'm pretty sure I would love this dip! Thanks for sharing.
xo,
Kristie
sweetelyseuk says
Great recipe. So wish I could eat this *sobs* (allergy to basil and pine nuts). Love your blog hun.
Hugs Elyse
Willow Moon says
I don't know what you could substitute the basil for, but pine nuts could be replaced with other nuts. Walnuts are another great addition to pestos!
Linda Jo Martin says
I love pesto! And I think I have most of the ingredients. I just need pine nuts... where do you get yours? What section of the store should I be looking in? <3
Willow Moon says
I usually shop in the bulk section for pine nuts. I shop at Sprouts mostly, but also Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. At Trader Joe's the pine nuts are with dried fruits and nuts, so I suppose other stores would carry it there too.