Nut-Free Pesto

5 from 50 votes

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The perfect no-nut pesto for those with nut allergies, and so simple to make in the food processor.

Nut-Free Pesto

Homemade Nut-Free Pesto

I’m in a big pesto place right now.  I guess some people might feel like pesto is a kind of “yesterday” food, but I have never been too much into food-is-fashion, and it’s just so amazing and versatile.

I do love it on pasta, but I also love to stir a spoonful into rice, maybe this Scallion Tomato Rice, or soup, or to  dot some on hot pizza, or use it on a crostini.

Nut-Free Pesto

And I always make my pesto myself myself because:

1) It’s easy, and 2) I’m allergic to nuts.

Pesto with No Nuts

Even though you can buy nut-free pestos (or pistous as they are sometimes called), nuts are so frequently connected to the idea of pesto that the whole notion just makes me nervous.  If the label says “no nuts” then it’s a mental thing, clearly, but nut allergies can make a person anxious.

But making pesto is so simple to make that I’m always happy to remove any back-of-the-mind concerns and make it myself.  Plus, you always get a super fresh result with your own ingredients, especially at the height of basil season. 

Nut-Free Pesto

Those of us with allergies need a quick and easy for no-nut basil pesto recipe at the ready. Pesto is so easy to make in the food processor, and so versatile.

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What is Pesto Made of:

Classic pesto is made with fresh basil, Parmesan or another hard Italian grating cheese, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper.  And pine nuts, usually, or another nut, but again, not in this recipe!  But that’s the classic pesto recipe, and you can play around with the ingredients.

Allergy-Friendly Basil Pesto:

The classic herb featured in pesto is basil.  And working with fresh basil in your kitchen makes the world seem like a better place.  Basil smells like summer.  Plus at the height of herb season you need a way to use up all of those leafy bunches, whether they come from your own garden, or from a farmers’ market.  (Or in my case, also sometimes from from my friends at Melissa’s or my neighbor Ted’s garden). You can play around with other herbs as well, instead of basil, or combine herbs.

How To Make Nut Free Pesto:

Traditionally, in Italy, pesto is classically made using a mortar and pestle.  I’m just not that industrious or patient, so I use my food processor.  You can also make pesto in a blender.

Place the garlic and basil in a food processor or blender and pulse until everything is roughly chopped. 

Nut-Free Pesto

Add the oil and pepper and process, scraping down the sides, part way through, until everything is well blended.  If it is very thick, add a bit more olive oil.  Add the cheese (Pecorino Romano or Parmesan your choice; more on that right below) and pulse until blended in. Taste and add salt if needed.

Nut-Free Pesto

Pecorino Romano vs. Parmesan in Pesto:

Parmesan is the cheese most often used in pesto, but another option (and a slightly cheaper one) is Pecorino Romano, made from sheep’s milk.  You can buy it in chunks or already grated (Gasp! Oh no, how could you? Well I do, all the time).  It’s quite salty though so when you use it, taste before salting as you would normally do.

This is a pretty thick pesto, a real paste, and if you want a thinner pesto for drizzling or tossing with hot pasta you could add some hot water from cooking the pasta, or some extra olive oil.

Nut-Free Pesto

Freezing Leftover Pesto:

You can freeze pesto, so it makes sense to make a big batch when a windfall of basil comes your way.  Is there anything more depressing than throwing out unused extra herbs?  Well, sure, there are plenty of more annoying things in the world, but still, why do it if you can help it?

You could use the ice cube tray trick, but ice cubes take a while to defrost, plus they are all the same size, so later in the month you may want 1 teaspoon or 1/4 cup pesto, and then those cubes might not work.  I use a similar technique to the way I freeze tomato paste — smushed out in a thin layer in a zipper top freezer bag. So easy, takes up almost no space, and you break off pieces in the sizes you need, as you need them.

Nut-Free Basil Pesto with Pecorino Romano in a bag for freezing/ Katie Workman / themom100.com

More ideas for this easy quick nut free, allergy friendly basil pesto? Pasta of course.

You will probably want to add some olive oil, and you might also want to top it with some shredded mozzarella or another cheese of your choice.

Recipes Using Nut-Free Pesto

Use it in Couscous Salad with Shrimp, Roasted Tomatoes and Pesto Dressing.  As a condiment in a sandwich. In an omelet, a dip, with meat, in a grilled cheese….the list continues to grow. Blended with fresh ricotta and spread onto a crostini.  Spread over grilled lamb chops.  Dripped over perfectly ripe tomatoes….

Tomatoes with Mint Basil Pesto / Photo by Mia / Katie Workman / themom100.com

How to Use Pesto

And check out 10 Things to Do With Leftover Pesto…..Fellow pesto-fans, what do you use it on?

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5 from 50 votes

Nut-Free Pesto

The perfect no-nut pesto for those with nut allergies, and so simple to make in the food processor.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 10 People

Ingredients 

  • 1 clove garlic roughly chopped
  • 1 cup packed basil leaves
  • cup olive oil or more as needed
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 3 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese
  • Kosher salt as needed

Instructions 

  • Place the garlic and basil in a food processor or blender and pulse until everything is roughly chopped. Add the oil and pepper and process, scraping down the sides, part way through, until everything is well blended.  If it is very thick, add a bit more olive oil. 
  • Add the cheese and pulse until blended in. Taste and add salt if needed.

Notes

Traditionally, in Italy, pesto is classically made using a mortar and pestle.  I’m just not that industrious or patient, so I use my food processor.  You can also make pesto in a blender.

Nutrition

Calories: 70kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Sodium: 18mg, Potassium: 7mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 133IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 20mg, Iron: 1mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Katie Workman

Katie Workman is a cook, a writer, a mother of two, an activist in hunger issues, and an enthusiastic advocate for family meals, which is the inspiration behind her two beloved cookbooks, Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook.

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50 Comments

  1. We didn’t have any pine nuts so I thought this would be sub par compared to traditional pesto. Not the case at all- the Basil really shone and the pesto was fresh, vibrant and flavorful!

  2. I received a huge bunch of fresh basil in my veggie subscription box and didn’t want it to go to waste so I made your recipe and it is delicious! I kept eating little bites of it from the bowl! I put it into a ziplock bag for the freezer as you suggested and can’t wait to add it to my dishes throughout the week :)

  3. I have an Aero Garden that put out basil like it’s their job! I didn’t have nuts but I had garlic and fresh parmesan and it worked perfectly! Now if know what to do with all the basil.

  4. I know there is 10 servings but what is a serving size? A tablespoon? Thanks in advance. I’m trying to count my macros.

      1. How long will it last in the fridge and can I use just grated parm (shaky cheese)? I have so much basil.

        Thanks

      2. I really don’t like to use the stuff in the cans – you can buy pre-grated cheddar in the cheese department that is real Parm, so try and find that! It will last for about 5 days in the fridge, and you can also freeze it for up to 3 months.