Gelatin Free Basil-Pesto Spinach Salad
Fresh, vibrant, and packed with bold herby flavor, this spinach salad is the kind of dish that makes you genuinely excited about eating your greens. The star is a homemade pesto blended from fragrant basil, garlic, lemon juice, and tiger nuts — a clever swap that keeps the sauce completely plant-based and free from any animal-derived thickeners or setting agents that can sneak into store-bought dressings. Tiger nuts bring a subtle nuttiness and creamy texture once blitzed in the food processor, so you get all the richness of a classic pesto without compromising a thing. A pinch of turmeric adds a warm, golden undertone that makes the dressing look as good as it tastes. Crisp baby spinach, cool cucumber half-moons, and peppery radish slices give every bite a satisfying crunch, while the bright lemon wedges served alongside let you dial up the acidity right at the table. The whole thing comes together in one bowl with minimal cleanup, and because you control how much pesto goes in, it's easy to dress it exactly the way you like. It's the kind of effortless, feel-good salad you'll want to keep on rotation.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- ⅓ cup tiger nuts, roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
For the salad
- 6 oz baby spinach (about 6 packed cups)
- 4 radishes, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced into half-moons
For serving
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn (optional)
- lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the basil, tiger nuts, and garlic in a food processor and pulse 8–10 times until the mixture is coarsely ground and no large pieces remain.
- 2
With the processor running, stream in the olive oil in a slow, steady pour until the pesto is smooth and emulsified, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides, then add the lemon juice, salt, and turmeric. Pulse 3–4 more times until fully incorporated. Taste and adjust salt.
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