Artificial Food Coloring Free Pesto-Walnut Turmeric Tahini Bites
These little bites pack a genuinely surprising flavor punch — earthy tahini, bright basil, warm turmeric, and a squeeze of lemon all rolled into one satisfying, snackable ball. Every single ingredient here is whole and recognizable, which means no synthetic dyes, no mystery additives, and none of the neon-tinted coatings you'll find on plenty of store-bought energy bites. The golden hue comes entirely from ground turmeric, and the rich color is honestly more beautiful than anything a lab could manufacture. Walnuts and basil get blitzed together into a rough, chunky pesto base that gives the bites real texture and depth, while the tahini and honey bind everything into a cohesive, slightly sticky mixture that holds its shape after a quick chill. Rolled oats add heartiness and a gentle chew, and a handful of hemp seeds can go in if you want an extra nutritional boost. They come together in one food processor and a mixing bowl — no baking required — and a 30-minute rest in the fridge is all it takes before they're ready to eat. Keep a batch in an airtight container and you've got a clean, colorful snack on hand all week long.
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Learn more →Ingredients
12 servings
For the bites
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup raw walnuts
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, packed
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup tahini
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp hemp seeds (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Add the walnuts and basil to a food processor and pulse 8–10 times until the walnuts are coarsely chopped and the basil is broken down into small flecks — the mixture should look like a rough, chunky pesto, not a smooth paste.
- 2
Add the tahini, olive oil, honey, lemon juice, turmeric, black pepper, and salt to the food processor. Pulse 5–6 more times until the mixture just comes together into a cohesive, slightly sticky mass.
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