Red Meat Allergy Friendly Basil & Olive Pesto
This bright, herby pesto is a pantry-worthy staple that comes together in minutes with nothing but fresh ingredients and a food processor. Packed basil leaves, briny green olives, and a hit of lemon juice and zest give it a bold, layered flavor that goes way beyond the classic pine nut version. The olive oil is streamed in slowly for a silky, cohesive texture that still holds a little rustic character ā exactly what you want clinging to pasta, spreading on flatbread, or spooned over roasted vegetables. Because it's built entirely from plants and good oil, it fits naturally into a lifestyle that avoids red meat without any substitutions or workarounds required. Optional parsley adds a subtle earthiness if you want to round out the flavor, but the base recipe is already deeply satisfying on its own. Store it in a jar in the fridge and you've got a versatile, flavor-packed condiment ready to elevate just about anything on your plate.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more āIngredients
6 servings
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- ā cup pitted green olives
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Ā½ tsp lemon zest
- Ā½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- Ā½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1ā2 tbsp fresh parsley leaves (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the basil leaves, green olives, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse 8ā10 times until the mixture is coarsely chopped and the garlic is broken down.
- 2
With the processor running, pour the olive oil in a slow, steady stream through the feed tube, processing until the pesto is smooth with a few flecks of texture remaining ā about 20ā30 seconds. Stop and scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula, then pulse once or twice more to incorporate.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!