Make this Nut-Free and Dairy-Free Homemade Pesto that is big on taste and allergy friendly for your next family dinner!
A few summers ago my youngest sister, who is a trained culinary mastermind, came to visit us while we were visiting my parents out east (is that long winded enough for you? Ha!) Anyway, while she was visiting us she did all sorts of fun things with my kids which they still talk about to this day. But one of the most memorable is that she spent hours with them in the kitchen baking and making anything and everything they asked her to make. This is where I found out my kids have an absolute love for Pesto! Crazy right? Ever since then, Pesto has become a staple in our family dinners (Thanks Annie! You da best because honestly, Pesto rocks!) (affiliate links present)
Now over the course of the last few years I have made some substitutions to our pesto sauce. Making it without cheese first…back when we were really trying to be as dairy-free as possible and then making it without nuts…because we had friends eating over a time or two who were allergic to them. And guess what? My Nut-Free Dairy-Free Pesto has been a hit with everyone who has tried it…with huge smiles and big high fives from the dairy and nut free crew who unfortunately haven’t had pesto in years!
I have found the best way to make pesto sauce is with a food processor (<–I have this one). I have this Vitamix and honestly, because I try not to use a lot of oil, it doesn’t mix as well in my large container. The food processor mixes it right up in no time! I have also found that if you want a lighter pesto you can use half the amount of oil and hot water for the other half. Just a thought for you if you are watching calories!
Nut-Free Dairy-Free Pesto
- 4 oz fresh basil
- 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- salt and pepper, to taste
- Place basil, sunflower seeds, garlic, and lemon juice inside the bowl of a food processor and lock the lid on top.
- Pulse together for 5-10 seconds and then pour in olive oil until well blended.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Scrape pesto into a jar and refrigerate or freeze until needed.
- Or pour over cooked pasta, enjoy!
I love that you really don’t need much to make this pesto sauce…lemon, garlic, sunflower seeds, extra virgin olive oil…
and of course basil! 
Process everything but the oil first, and then slowly add the oil to make the pesto into a paste!
And there you have it…YUM!
Kid approved deliciousness…ready for dinner in no time at all!
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Thanks for stopping by today!
Love,
Maggie
What do you put the pesto on? Pasta?
Yes pasta!! So so good instead of red tomato sauce!
sister!! you’re so sweet! and i love that you guys love pesto because of me (heart explodes!)
P.S. you can use white miso in place of cheese!! mucho delicioso!
You are the best, sister!!! <3
This looks amazing, thanks so much for sharing it! My youngest has a dairy and nut allergy, so it has been quite some time since we’ve had pesto around here, I can’t wait to try this version.
I hope you all love it!!