Xanthan Gum Free Pesto-Walnut Grape Snack Box
This snack box is the kind of effortless, no-cook assembly that somehow feels more impressive than the effort it takes. The star is a rustic walnut pesto — fresh basil, dry-roasted walnuts, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic pulsed into a coarse, spreadable paste that has way more personality than anything from a jar. It pairs beautifully with crisp cucumber rounds, juicy red grapes, and an extra handful of walnuts for satisfying crunch in every bite. A light drizzle of raw honey over the grapes ties the sweet and savory elements together in the best possible way. Because everything here is built from whole, recognizable ingredients, there are no hidden additives or stabilizers to worry about — just real food that happens to come together in minutes. Xanthan gum shows up in a surprising number of store-bought pestos and dressings as a thickener, so making your own from scratch is genuinely the smarter move. The food processor does the heavy lifting, and the rough, textured finish of this pesto is actually part of its charm — it clings to cucumber slices and scoops up beautifully. Pack it into compartments for a grab-and-go lunch or lay it out on a board for a snack spread that looks like you tried much harder than you did.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
For the walnut pesto
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
- ¼ cup dry-roasted walnuts
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 small garlic clove
- ¼ tsp salt
For the snack box
- 1 cup red grapes
- ¼ cup dry-roasted walnuts
- ½ medium cucumber, sliced into rounds
- 1 tsp raw honey (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the basil, 1/4 cup dry-roasted walnuts, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt in a small food processor. Pulse 8–10 times, scraping down the sides once, until the mixture is coarsely ground and holds together — it should look like a rough, spreadable paste, not a smooth purée.
- 2
Slice the cucumber into rounds about 1/4-inch thick.
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