Carrageenan Free Vegan Lemon Arugula Pesto

Bright, peppery, and packed with fresh flavor, this plant-based pesto is the kind of sauce that makes you want to put it on absolutely everything. Arugula brings a bold, slightly bitter bite that plays beautifully against the toasted pine nuts and a generous hit of lemon, while nutritional yeast adds that savory, cheesy depth without any dairy. Every single ingredient here is whole and straightforward — no emulsifiers, no thickeners, no stabilizers hiding in the mix, which is exactly what you want when avoiding carrageenan-containing store-bought alternatives. Many jarred pestos and dairy-free cheese substitutes sneak in additives that can be hard to spot on a label, so making your own from scratch is genuinely the easiest workaround. The technique is simple: toast the pine nuts until golden, pulse everything together in a food processor, then stream in the olive oil until you hit that thick, spoonable consistency. It comes together in minutes and keeps things rustic with just enough texture to cling to pasta, flatbread, or roasted vegetables. Once you taste how vibrant this is, the store-bought stuff won't even be tempting.

About Fig

Fig 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 →