Vegan Almond Spinach Pesto
Vegan Almond Spinach Pesto is a perfect alternative to a traditional Italian pesto. It’s smooth, creamy, cheesy, and absolutely delicious! Experimenting with the ingredients is something I enjoy doing.
This recipe is my creation, I decided to use raw almonds instead of pine nuts, and I added a lot of spinach (any type) instead of adding only basil. At first, I was afraid how it will end up, but I can guarantee you’ll save this one, it’s the absolute winner! 🙂
Basil is usually the main ingredient of each pesto recipe. Well, this one is an exception. 🙂 If you are new to Pesto, try spinach almond pest, it’s unique and perfectly goes with any pasta. Also, it’s a healthier version of a traditional pesto recipe. For me eating it with zucchini noodles and tomatoes is a must try!
Spinach and basil are a perfect combo, which makes this recipe full of antioxidants, rich in fiber, calcium, Vitamins A, C, E, and K, and many other benefits. What I love the most about this recipe is how fast I can make it - 6 minutes - that’s it! This recipe is 100% vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
Prep time: 3 min Cook time: 3 min Total: 6 min
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INGREDIENTS
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup fresh basil
- 1 garlic clove
- 2/3 cup almonds (silvered but not necessarily)
- 3-4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (depending on consistency)
- 1 teaspoon hemp hearts
- 2 tablespoon (30 ml) lemon juice (1 lemon)
- himalayan salt to taste
- pinch of black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
- Into a food processor add cooked spinach, basil, garlic clove, almonds, lemon juice, hemp hearts, pepper, and salt and mix for about 1 minute slowly adding a tablespoon of olive oil at a time. Mix until completely smooth and creamy.
- Transfer the mixture to a prepared jar or another dish. Garnish with basil leaves.
- Serve and enjoy!