Pesto is one of my all-time favorite foods! It seriously makes EVERYTHING taste better! Now, I know what you’re thinking… how can you make pesto without animal products? Well, It can be done, and done well! My kids love it! They said – Mom, this sauce is delicious.. but maybe not put it over couscous next time lol. Couscous isn’t their favorite… My husband and I fully enjoyed it though.
A good pesto sauce can be used in hundreds of meals. I made a grain salad last night with sauteed veggies with a creamy pesto on top…. and it was delish! some of my favorite ways to eat pesto are on pasta salad, zoodles, as a pizza sauce, a yummy dip for bread, baked into bread, as a salad dressing, on a veggie sandwich, etc. The possibilities are endless.
Plus, there are some amazing health benefits to eating pesto! Basil is good for digestion, it’s anti-inflammatory, it fights free-radical activity, it supports liver function and helps detoxify the body, fights depression, and supports a healthy gut! Those are some big claims! So not only does pesto make everything taste better – it’s so good for you!
Now you might be wondering how to make pesto without parmesan cheese, because usually, it is an essential ingredient… well, the answer is nutritional yeast, my friend! I love nutritional yeast! It has the most wonderful savory cheesy flavor and added to your pesto recipe works to replace the parmesan cheese.
Another odd substitute… Pinenuts can be hard to find at the moment, so instead, I used walnuts! Did you know you can substitute walnuts in place of pinenuts? And it’s sooo delicious! Plus walnuts are very heart-healthy!