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Home » Recipes » Sides

Almond Pesto

By Erin · July 18, 2020 · Updated September 27, 2021 · 2 Comments

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Gluten FreeDairy FreeVeganVegetarianWhole30Paleo
pesto in a jar with text overlay

This easy Almond Pesto is a nice way to change it up from traditional pesto. It uses just 5 ingredients, is ready in 5 minutes and pairs perfectly with pasta, meatballs or vegetables! 

pesto in a jar

Recipe features

  • A good way to switch it up from traditional pesto with pine nuts
  • The flavor is slightly different (dare I say better?!) than traditional pesto
  • It can easily be served in place of kale pesto or arugula pesto

Ingredient notes:

Almonds - Always use raw almonds, not roasted and/or salted.

Spinach - Can sub kale if you prefer

Olive oil - I always use extra virgin olive oil. You can sub avocado oil, though it won't have as much flavor.

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Add almonds, garlic, basil, and spinach to your food processor and pulse for 20 seconds.

spinach in a food processor

Step 2: With the motor still running, pour the olive oil in through the top. At this point, everything should come together, but if it seems "stuck", add water in 1 tablespoon at a time. You don't want to add too much water, but 1-3 tablespoon should do the trick.

pesto in a food processor

Tips and FAQs

  • You may have to experiment between using your food processor, or using a small blender (like a NutriBullet). If you have a high-quality food processor, that should work, but if not, try a blender instead.

Doesn't pesto normally include cheese?

It does! I omitted it to make this recipe dairy-free, but you can absolutely add shredded parmesan (or even vegan parmesan) if you want. If you're going to add cheese, add two tablespoons to your food processor along with the other ingredients.

How long does almond pesto last?

If stored in the refrigerator, it should last 5-7 days. If you want it to last longer, simply place it in a freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 2 months. You can follow this guide to learn more about freezing pesto.

pesto in a jar

Serve this pesto with:

  • Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
  • Mediterranean Stuffed Zucchini Boats
  • Black Rice Chicken Meatballs

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!

pesto in a jar

Almond Pesto

This easy Almond Pesto is a nice way to change it up from traditional pesto. It uses just 5 ingredients, is ready in 5 minutes and pairs perfectly with pasta, meatballs or vegetables! 
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 8
Author: Erin

Ingredients

  • ½ cup raw almonds
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 cup spinach
  • 1 ½ cup fresh basil
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • water as needed

Instructions

  • Add almonds, garlic, spinach, basil, and salt to your food processor and pulse for 10 seconds.
  • With the motor still running, pour the olive oil in through the top. If mixture gets stuck add 1-2 tablespoon of water.
  • Store pesto in a jar in the refrigerator for 5-7 days, or place it in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 2 months.

Notes

Substitutions: Can use kale instead of spinach, can use avocado oil instead of olive oil (olive oil will provide more flavor though), can add 2 tablespoon parmesan/vegan parmesan if you want

Nutrition

Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 76mg | Potassium: 97mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 589IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you Make this Recipe? Tag me Today!Leave a comment below and tag @thealmondeater on Instagram!
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Lentil Meatballs »

About Erin

Erin is the recipe developer, writer and photographer behind the healthy food blog, The Almond Eater. She's been blogging since 2014 and loves to create food for many different diets, including vegan, gluten free and/or Whole30 recipes.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dawn Lopez says

    August 07, 2022 at 12:06 pm

    Why should I not use roasted almonds? Another recipe I found called for toasted, so I bought roasted(not salted) almonds to save time.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      August 08, 2022 at 7:55 am

      Hi! Roasted almonds are fine, as long as they aren't salted.

      Reply

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