Ginger Free Vegan Basil Pesto with Lemon Zest
This vibrant, dairy-free pesto is everything you want in a sauce — bright, herby, rich, and deeply savory. Toasted pine nuts bring a warm, buttery depth, while nutritional yeast steps in for the cheesy, umami punch you'd normally get from parmesan. A hit of lemon zest and fresh lemon juice lifts the whole thing, keeping it tasting fresh and lively rather than heavy. The food processor does most of the work, and the slow drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil brings it all together into a glossy, spoonable sauce that clings beautifully to pasta, flatbreads, or roasted vegetables. For anyone navigating a ginger sensitivity, this recipe is naturally free of it — no workarounds needed, just clean, straightforward ingredients that are easy to verify. You can thin it out with a splash of water to get exactly the consistency you're after, and a final taste-and-adjust moment at the end means it's always dialed in just right.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- ⅓ cup pine nuts
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp lemon zest (from about 1 lemon)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1–2 tbsp water, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Toast the pine nuts in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant, about 2–3 minutes. Watch closely, as they can brown quickly. Transfer immediately to a plate and let cool for 2 minutes.
- 2
Combine the toasted pine nuts, basil, garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper in a food processor. Pulse 8–10 times until the mixture is coarsely chopped and the ingredients are evenly broken down.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!