Paraben Free Vegan Garlic Scape Pesto

Total time15 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time5 min

4.9

(25)

Garlic scapes are one of those fleeting farmers market finds that deserve way more attention, and blending them into pesto is honestly one of the best things you can do with them. They bring a mellow, grassy garlic flavor that pairs beautifully with fresh basil, toasted pine nuts, and a bright hit of lemon juice and zest. Nutritional yeast steps in to deliver that savory, cheesy depth without any dairy, making this a fully plant-based sauce that doesn't feel like it's missing a thing. Every ingredient here is whole and straightforward — no preservatives, no additives, no mystery stabilizers hiding in a jar. That matters a lot when you're trying to avoid synthetic compounds that sneak into so many store-bought condiments and sauces. Making it yourself in a food processor means you control exactly what goes in, from the quality of the olive oil to the freshness of the basil. The technique is simple but the results are seriously impressive — toasting the pine nuts first adds a warm, nutty richness that elevates the whole batch. Drizzle it over pasta, spread it on crusty bread, or stir it into grain bowls for an instant upgrade. Once you make this from scratch, reaching for a commercial pesto will feel like a step backward.

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Ingredients

6 servings

⅓ cup pine nuts
6 oz garlic scapes (about 10–12 scapes), roughly chopped
1 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
3 tbsp nutritional yeast
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
½ tsp lemon zest
½ tsp salt, plus more to taste
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 3–4 minutes. Watch closely, as they can brown quickly. Transfer immediately to a plate to cool.
2
Add the garlic scapes, basil, toasted pine nuts, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper to a food processor. Pulse 8–10 times until the mixture is coarsely chopped and uniform.

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