Citric Acid Free Pesto-Walnut Turmeric Tahini Bites

Total time50 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time0 min

Citric Acid Free Pesto-Walnut Turmeric Tahini Bites

These little bites pack a serious flavor punch — earthy tahini, fragrant basil, toasty walnuts, and a warm hit of turmeric all rolled into one satisfying, no-bake snack. The combination of rolled oats and walnuts gives them a hearty, slightly chewy texture that holds together beautifully after a quick chill in the fridge. For anyone navigating a citric acid sensitivity, snack time can feel like a minefield, since so many packaged energy balls and bars sneak in citric acid as a preservative or flavor enhancer. Here, the brightness comes entirely from fresh lemon juice, which is a naturally occurring source rather than the processed additive that causes problems for many people. A touch of honey brings just enough sweetness to balance the savory pesto notes, while black pepper helps activate the turmeric so you're getting the full benefit of that golden spice. The whole process happens in a food processor and a mixing bowl — no baking required — making this one of the easiest batch-prep snacks you can keep stocked in your refrigerator all week.

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Ingredients

12 servings

For the bites

2 cups rolled oats
Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Old Fashioned Whole Grain Rolled Oats Bobs Red Mill Rolled Oats Organic Old Fashioned - 16 Oz Bobs Red Mill Rolled Oats Gluten Free Organic Extra Thick - 32 Oz One Degree Organic Foods Gluten Free Sprouted Rolled Oats - 24 Oz Nature's Path Organic Whole Grain Old Fashioned Rolled Oats - 18 Oz
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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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