Xanthan Gum Free Pesto-Walnut Turmeric Tahini Bites
These little bites pack a serious flavor punch — earthy tahini, bright basil, toasty walnuts, and a warm hit of turmeric all rolled into one satisfying, no-bake snack. The combination of rolled oats and tahini gives them a naturally cohesive texture that holds together beautifully without any gums, starches, or binding additives whatsoever. That's great news if you're navigating ingredient labels and trying to avoid thickeners that sneak into so many packaged snacks and energy balls. Everything here is whole-food and straightforward: a food processor, a bowl, and your hands are really all you need. A squeeze of lemon juice and a pinch of black pepper (which helps activate the turmeric) round out the flavor in a way that feels intentional and almost gourmet. They firm up in the fridge and keep for a full week, making them an easy grab-and-go option you can prep once and snack on all week long. Sprinkle in the hemp seeds if you have them — they add a subtle nuttiness and a little extra nutrition without changing the texture at all.
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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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