Cinnamon Free Pesto-Walnut Turmeric Tahini Bites
These little bites pack a genuinely surprising flavor punch — earthy tahini, bright basil, toasty walnuts, and a warm golden hit of turmeric all rolled into one satisfying, no-bake snack. The pesto-inspired base comes together in a food processor, so there's minimal effort between you and a full batch of 24 ready-to-grab bites. Honey and lemon juice balance the richness of the olive oil and tahini beautifully, while black pepper helps the turmeric do its thing. For anyone navigating a spice sensitivity around cinnamon, snack options can feel frustratingly limited — so many energy balls and granola bites lean on it heavily. This recipe skips it entirely without sacrificing any warmth or complexity, relying instead on turmeric and fresh basil for that layered, interesting flavor. After a quick chill in the fridge, they firm up into perfectly rollable, lunchbox-friendly bites that keep for up to a week — assuming they last that 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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