Meatless Friday: Vegan Spinach Walnut Pesto

Elizabeth Varga shares a 6-ingredient recipe for pesto that's simple to make, plant-based and dairy-free. Download our printable recipe card!

Traditional pesto recipes have cheese and oil as main ingredients, but as an oil-free vegan, I don't eat either of those ingredients. So, of course, I made my own delicious pesto. It has the taste and texture of traditional pesto but is wayyyy healthier. 

Vegan Spinach Walnut Pesto

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ Ounces Fresh Spinach about 1 ½ cups loosely packed
• ½ Ounce Fresh Basil about ½ cup loosely packed
• 1 Ounce Walnuts about ¼ cup
• 2 Tablespoons Nutritional Yeast
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
• 1 Teaspoon Salt
• ¼ Teaspoon Pepper
• 8 Ounces Pasta of choice (I used chickpea pasta)

Directions:

• Make the pesto. Blend the spinach, basil, walnuts, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a food processor. You may need to scrape down the sides of the processor.
• Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse well.
• Transfer the pasta to a bowl and toss with the pesto, stirring evenly to coat. Enjoy!