Aria's Vegan Pesto- and 5 ways to eat it!
Pesto is so easy to put together, and can create so many easy snacks and meals that come together quickly! Aria shared her favorite pesto, an adaptation from Minimalist Baker's website. Even if you are not needing a dairy free version, this adaptation adds Nutritional Yeast, which is a great source of B vitamins, and you can always add cheese after. ;)
Easy Vegan Pesto
2 cups packed Basil
3 TBSP Walnuts, Pine Nuts, Sunflower Seeds, or Hemp Seeds (Aria's favorite is Walnut and hemp!)
3 large Garlic Cloves (peeled)
2 TBSP Lemon Juice
3-4 TBSP Nutritional Yeast
2-3 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil OR Avocado Oil
3-6 TBSP water and more as needed
In a food processor (easiest) or blender, combine add everything except oil and water. As it is running, slowly add the oil in a thin stream. Scrape down sides as needed. Then add water, 1 TBSP at a time until you have a thick, but pourable consistency of Pesto. You can also sub in just water and no oil at all, use broth or even use the liquid from a can of beans.
Taste and adjust as needed, adding more nutritional yeast for more cheesy flavor, nuts for nuttiness, lemon for acid, or garlic for zest.
Keeps for 1 week in fridge, or divide into ice cube trays and freeze for up to one year!
Easy Peasy Meal #1: Noodles
Cook your fav noodle (Farmer Mandy loves the Banza pasta for protein purposes), add healthy portion of pesto, and top with your choice of protein (bbq chicken is phenom) and cheese if you go that way.
Easy Peasy Pesto Plan #2: Pesto cracker hour 'devours
Spread cream cheese, chevre, or favorite soft cheese on a cracker, add a layer of pesto, top with half a cherry tomato. Top with a basil leaf for added fanciness, and enjoy!
Easy Peasy Pesto #3: Avocado Toast
Add a layer of pesto to your avocado toast!
Easy Peasy Pesto #4: Pesto Aioli Burgers
Nothing goes better with pesto than a creamy aioli sauce! If you like Garlic, you will LOVE this meal idea! Cook your favorite burger, add a spread of pesto, then whip up the quickest ailoi ever by combining 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 5 medium cloves of minced garlic, 2 tsps of lemon juice, and a sprinkle of salt. Spread your other bun with this, add a large slice of heirloom tomato, and eat heartily!
Easy Peasy Pesto #5: Here is just a series of more ideas to get your meal planning going:
~Top your scrambled eggs
~Drizzle over a cheese pizza
~Decorate your steamed broccoli
~Pesto Chicken Noodle bake
~Add a scoop to Chicken Salad
~Smother Ravioli with it
Easy Vegan Pesto
2 cups packed Basil
3 TBSP Walnuts, Pine Nuts, Sunflower Seeds, or Hemp Seeds (Aria's favorite is Walnut and hemp!)
3 large Garlic Cloves (peeled)
2 TBSP Lemon Juice
3-4 TBSP Nutritional Yeast
2-3 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil OR Avocado Oil
3-6 TBSP water and more as needed
In a food processor (easiest) or blender, combine add everything except oil and water. As it is running, slowly add the oil in a thin stream. Scrape down sides as needed. Then add water, 1 TBSP at a time until you have a thick, but pourable consistency of Pesto. You can also sub in just water and no oil at all, use broth or even use the liquid from a can of beans.
Taste and adjust as needed, adding more nutritional yeast for more cheesy flavor, nuts for nuttiness, lemon for acid, or garlic for zest.
Keeps for 1 week in fridge, or divide into ice cube trays and freeze for up to one year!
Easy Peasy Meal #1: Noodles
Cook your fav noodle (Farmer Mandy loves the Banza pasta for protein purposes), add healthy portion of pesto, and top with your choice of protein (bbq chicken is phenom) and cheese if you go that way.
Easy Peasy Pesto Plan #2: Pesto cracker hour 'devours
Spread cream cheese, chevre, or favorite soft cheese on a cracker, add a layer of pesto, top with half a cherry tomato. Top with a basil leaf for added fanciness, and enjoy!
Easy Peasy Pesto #3: Avocado Toast
Add a layer of pesto to your avocado toast!
Easy Peasy Pesto #4: Pesto Aioli Burgers
Nothing goes better with pesto than a creamy aioli sauce! If you like Garlic, you will LOVE this meal idea! Cook your favorite burger, add a spread of pesto, then whip up the quickest ailoi ever by combining 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 5 medium cloves of minced garlic, 2 tsps of lemon juice, and a sprinkle of salt. Spread your other bun with this, add a large slice of heirloom tomato, and eat heartily!
Easy Peasy Pesto #5: Here is just a series of more ideas to get your meal planning going:
~Top your scrambled eggs
~Drizzle over a cheese pizza
~Decorate your steamed broccoli
~Pesto Chicken Noodle bake
~Add a scoop to Chicken Salad
~Smother Ravioli with it