Low Iodine Pesto-Walnut Turmeric Tahini Bites
These no-bake bites are the kind of snack that feels indulgent but is actually built on a foundation of whole, nourishing ingredients. Walnuts and fresh basil get pulsed into a rough, chunky pesto base, then brought together with tahini, honey, olive oil, and a bright hit of lemon juice — the result is earthy, herby, and just sweet enough to keep you reaching for another. A generous pinch of turmeric and black pepper adds warmth and depth that makes these taste far more complex than the effort involved. Eating with iodine restrictions can make packaged snacks a minefield, since many processed bars and bites contain dairy, iodized salt, or additives that are hard to track. This recipe sidesteps all of that by relying on whole plant-based ingredients and fine sea salt, which is naturally low in iodine compared to its iodized counterpart. Every component here is straightforward and easy to verify, so you can snack with confidence rather than squinting at ingredient labels. The rolled oats give the bites a satisfying chew and help them hold their shape after a quick chill in the refrigerator. Optional hemp seeds add a subtle nuttiness and a little extra texture if you want to take them up a notch. Make a batch on Sunday and you'll have a week's worth of grab-and-go snacks that genuinely taste like something you'd find at a boutique café.
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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 saltChef's tipFine sea salt and table salt measure the same - no conversion needed.
- 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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