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Creamy Nut-Free Basil Pesto Sauce

creamy nut-free basil pesto sauce - featured image
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A quick and easy nut-free pesto sauce made with fresh basil, sunflower seeds, and Greek yogurt for a creamy, vibrant flavor perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or dips.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
  • 1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds
  • 2 medium garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for dairy-free)
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (or coconut yogurt for dairy-free)
  • Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Optional: small handful fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Rinse fresh basil leaves under cold water and pat dry with a kitchen towel. Toast the sunflower seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and slightly golden (optional).
  2. Add basil leaves, toasted sunflower seeds, garlic cloves, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper into a food processor bowl. Pulse 3-4 times to roughly chop.
  3. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil and lemon juice through the feed tube. Add Greek yogurt and blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides as needed.
  4. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, lemon juice, or garlic if desired. If too thick, add a teaspoon or two of water or olive oil to loosen.
  5. If desired, add red pepper flakes and pulse once more. Transfer pesto to a clean jar or container and refrigerate until ready to use.

Notes

Toast sunflower seeds lightly for enhanced flavor. Use fresh basil for best taste and color. Adjust lemon juice gradually to balance acidity. Add extra yogurt or olive oil to adjust texture. Store pesto with a thin layer of olive oil on top to prevent browning. Keeps refrigerated up to 5 days or frozen in ice cube trays for longer storage.

Nutrition

Keywords: nut-free pesto, basil pesto, creamy pesto sauce, sunflower seed pesto, dairy-free pesto, quick pesto recipe, easy pesto sauce

Find it online: https://siennaspoon.com/creamy-nut-free-basil-pesto-sauce-easy-recipe-for-fresh-flavor/