Main image of Vegan Red Pesto

Vegan Red Pesto

10 min

Appetizer

Spread

10 ingredients or less

Make-ahead
This speedy red pesto is absolutely addictive and so intensely flavourful! Enjoy it in pasta, spread it into a sandwich or wrap, or serve it with some crackers and vegetables as a dip. If you ever make it for friends or family, be prepared to share the recipe, 'cuz we can guarantee they'll be asking for it!

Servings

(2 Tbsp per serving)

Total

10 min

Prep

5 min

Cook

5 min

Contains

Treenut symbol

tree nut

Free from

Soy symbol

soy

Peanut symbol

peanut

Sesame symbol

sesame

Gluten symbol

gluten

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (72 g)
    raw almonds
  • 1 cup (150 g)
    sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained
  • ½ cup (120 mL)
    oil from jar of sun-dried tomatoes
  • ⅓ cup (8 g)
    fresh basil, packed
  • 2
    cloves garlic
  • 1 Tbsp (2 g)
    nutritional yeast flakes
  • ½
    lemon, juiced
  • ½ tsp
    salt
  • ¼ tsp
    ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Heat a small pan over medium-high heat, and toast the almonds for 4 - 5 minutes, stirring throughout.
  2. Add the toasted almonds and all the remaining ingredients to a food processor, and blend. Enjoy with crackers or as a spread on your favourite sandwich!

Storage

Print

Let us know what you think

Nutrition info

We believe that focusing on numbers can harm our relationship with food. Instead, our philosophy is to Nourish the Cells & the Soul. If you require specific nutrition information due to a medical condition, please consult with a dietitian or physician. The nutritional information provided is composed with the utmost care. However, we cannot guarantee the correctness of the displayed values, see also our disclaimer.

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Discussion & Rating

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Sarah - May 29, 2023, 3:35 a.m.

So quick to make, so yummy and so versatile! Thank you 🙂

Reply
Letty - May 14, 2023, 1:55 a.m.

I have always loved the sundried tomato pesto with Parmesan, so I wanted to see if this recipe was just as delicious, it absolutely was!!!! I spread it on slices of baguette for an appetizer. Loved it!!

PUL Team - May 15, 2023, 7:13 a.m.

Woohoo! Thank you, Letty 😃

Reply
Avril - May 9, 2023, 6:35 p.m.

Loved this. I blended it a bit too much as had to use extra water, so it was smoother than your picture. Silly me used a blender cup instead of a food processor 😋, so it kept getting stuck to the sides. We actually used it as a sauce on tortellini, delicious. Thank you for a great recipe. Will have it chunky next time.

PUL Team - May 9, 2023, 8:23 p.m.

Aww so happy it was still enjoyed, Avril! Happy cooking 🤗

Reply
Chrissi - April 9, 2023, 1:09 p.m.

I love this recipe! I‘ve made it several times and it has become one of my go-to dishes to bring to an invitation (to use as a spread or condiment on a buffet).
I use ground almonds/almond flour instead of whole ones, which makes it a little smoother.
Thank you for all your delicious recipes and the beautifully done videos and website. It’s a delight cooking with you!

PUL Team - April 9, 2023, 5:47 p.m.

It means so much, Chrissi, thank you for sharing your experience with this one! Happy cooking 🤗

Reply
Zoe - Feb. 26, 2023, 12:38 p.m.

Delicious... I always have it in the fridge. Great with hummus and seeded rye toast.

Reply
Bethany - Jan. 20, 2023, 2:41 a.m.

Amazing! Truly amazing and our go to weekly lunch idea.

Reply
Merel - Dec. 30, 2022, 5:32 p.m.

Loved this recipe. Have already made it multiple times. And my boyfriend also loved the recipe, he keeps on asking me to keep on making it.

PUL Team - Dec. 31, 2022, 3:43 a.m.

Aw so glad it's being enjoyed, Merel, thank you!

Reply
Katia - Dec. 22, 2022, 10:37 a.m.

Made this recipe for dinner last night and it was amazing. I was out of almonds so used walnuts instead. Thank you for your delicious and simple to follow recipes.

PUL Team - Dec. 22, 2022, 6:25 p.m.

So happy to hear, Katia, thank you!

Reply
Mathilde - Oct. 14, 2022, 12:31 p.m.

Hi !
I don't have almonds but ground almonds, does it work as well ?

PUL Team - Oct. 14, 2022, 11:47 p.m.

Hey Mathilde, we prefer whole nuts as freshly roasting them before blending helps elevate the flavour and add some creaminess. You can use ground almonds too though. If you still want to roast them, just a heads up that they will toast much quicker 🙂

Reply
Bread - Sept. 21, 2022, 11:47 p.m.

This looks so yummy ! Sadly, I am allergic to almonds. Could I swap them out with something ? Thanks ! :)

PUL Team - Sept. 22, 2022, 2:39 a.m.

Hey there, Bread, Pine nuts, sunflower seeds or pepitas (roasted pumpkin seeds) may work well. We hope you enjoy the pesto if you're able to give it a try 😃

Reply
Stephanie - Sept. 2, 2022, 7:14 p.m.

I have been making this recipe ever since I saw you make it on YouTube and it's just delicious! I could eat it with a spoon.

PUL Team - Sept. 5, 2022, 1:03 a.m.

So thrilled it's being enjoyed, Stephanie, it means so much 💛

Reply
Genesis - July 18, 2022, 1:03 a.m.

So yummy! You've done it again Sadia! I followed the recipe exactly and it was perfect.

PUL Team - July 18, 2022, 5:39 p.m.

Woohoo! A huge compliment, Genesis, thank you ❣️

Reply
Louise Magnusson 🇸🇪 - July 17, 2022, 10:51 p.m.

Well-balanced, perfect consistency, and intense flavours. So delicious as a condiment for a meal and a dip for vegetables! The lemon juice really helps to remove any “greasy” taste sensation from the oils in the almonds and sun-dried tomatoes.
Thank you PUL for another great snack recipe!!

PUL Team - July 18, 2022, 5:38 p.m.

We're so glad the pesto was enjoyed, Louise, thanks a bunch for taking the time to share your experience with it 🙂

Reply
Niki - June 9, 2022, 8:02 p.m.

Absolutely delicious...I've now made it several times, spread over wraps or sourdough for all the family...loved by everyone, thank you!

PUL Team - June 10, 2022, 9:22 p.m.

Mmm sounds lovely, Niki, we're so happy to hear!

Reply
Christine - May 29, 2022, 9:28 a.m.

So easy to make and oh so good, thank-you PUL team

Reply
Robin N. - May 27, 2022, 8:38 p.m.

This Red Pesto is both savory and filling. It provided a lovely amount of flavors to a plate of raw vegetables that just made the perfect lunch. Thanks so much for developing these delicious and easy recipes. I appreciate you PUL team!

PUL Team - May 28, 2022, 10:46 p.m.

Aw thank you for glowing review, Robin! We appreciate the support 🤗

Reply
Valentina - April 29, 2022, 9:34 p.m.

This recipe is absolutely delicious. Super comforting and satisfying, specially when added to salads 😋

PUL Team - April 30, 2022, 9:55 p.m.

Thank you, Valentina, we're so happy it's being enjoyed!

Reply
Janine - April 9, 2022, 1:28 p.m.

This was amazing <3

Reply
Rachel - April 6, 2022, 7:30 p.m.

I just tried this a few weeks ago, and I can’t stop making it! What a perfect addition to a sandwich! Thank you!

PUL Team - April 7, 2022, 12:24 a.m.

So glad it's being enjoyed, Rachel, thank you!

Reply
Petra - Dec. 21, 2021, 9:03 a.m.

Hi! I would love to make this pesto for christmas. Do you by any chance know if there is something easily available here in The Netherlands, that I could use to replace the nutritional yeast? It seems to be available at some shops, but it is also quite expensive.. 😅

PUL Team - Dec. 22, 2021, 3:31 a.m.

Hi Petra, thanks for the question! Nutritional yeast is a bit tricky to find an exact substitute for. Since it helps with creaminess, you could try adding pulverized cashews as a substitute. You could also omit the nutritional yeast and make a less creamy pesto. We hope this helps and you enjoy the recipe if you're able to give it a try ☺️

Petra - Dec. 22, 2021, 9:21 a.m.

Thank you for the tip! I'll let you know once I've made it ☺️✨

Reply
alice - Dec. 17, 2021, 4:07 p.m.

sadia, where is the recipe PDF ? They dissappeared ? ;((
I really wanna make it, and hope it will be equally delicious asLidl's (not vegan) bio red pesto, but with less satyurated fat ..
And still waiting for new minimalism/ lifestyle video ;)

PUL Team - Dec. 20, 2021, 9:10 p.m.

Hey Alice, thanks for the question, and apologies for any confusion! Just below the directions and storage information, there should be a green "print" button. When you click this it'll take you to a print page where we can save the recipe as a PDF. We can remove the image or adjust the font size if desired to make it fit on a different number of pages. We hope this helps for now and hope you enjoy the recipe 😊 We've noted down the request for more minimalism/ lifestyle content too ✨

Reply
Demi - Oct. 17, 2021, 10:39 a.m.

Would pine nuts work with this? I can't eat almonds, unfortunately. Has anyone tried this? :)

PUL Team - Oct. 17, 2021, 3:56 p.m.

Hi Demi, we haven't tested it out, but pine nuts generally work well in pesto so we imagine it would be fine. Do let us know how it goes if you try the pesto😃

Reply
Diana - Oct. 10, 2021, 3:40 p.m.

The best pesto I've ever tasted! I just can't believe I made something so delicious. Thank you so much for sharing your recipes with us. It's so easy to follow them and every single thing I made, came out perfect. My boyfriend is making another batch for the next week :) We're obsessed. Yum!!

PUL Team - Oct. 10, 2021, 5:57 p.m.

A huuuge compliment, Diana! Thank you so much for sharing 🤗

Reply
Jacquelyn - Sept. 23, 2021, 1:38 a.m.

Has anyone tried freezing this? Looking to batch-cook a bunch with all the excess summer basil I have and then freeze for winter. Thanks!!

PUL Team - Sept. 24, 2021, 6:41 p.m.

Hi Jacquelyn! We haven't tested it out so we can't with certainty, but vegan pesto tends to freeze well for ~2 months. Do let us know you give it a try with this recipe 😃

Reply
Nicole - Sept. 15, 2021, 7:35 p.m.

I’ve made this twice (so far) and absolutely love it. It’s now a part of my lunch rotation. Thank you PUL!

PUL Team - Sept. 16, 2021, 2:29 a.m.

Aw so glad you're enjoying it, Nicole, thank you 😃

Reply
Stephanie - Sept. 14, 2021, 12:32 p.m.

Mmh, so goood and rich in flavour 🤤 I left out the nutritional yeast and the almonds and used 72g almond parmesan instead. Worked out just fine 🤩

PUL Team - Sept. 14, 2021, 10:25 p.m.

Mm sounds lovely, Stephanie, thanks for sharing your experience with this one!

Reply
Despoina Argyri - Sept. 4, 2021, 2:19 p.m.

I just made this beautiful recipe and god damn it is it delicious.! It deserves not 5 but 10+ starsI cant describe how much i love Pick Up Limes , your recipes never fail!! A lot of love and greetings from Greece!!

PUL Team - Sept. 4, 2021, 5:48 p.m.

Awe you're too kind, Despoina! It means so much that PUL content is being enjoyed 😃 Lot of love and greetings back to Greece 💚

Reply
Laura McIntyre - Aug. 29, 2021, 12:01 p.m.

Wow this is amazing!

Reply
Sherri - Aug. 13, 2021, 1:59 a.m.

Wow, absolutely delicious! We recently discovered PUL via Nathaniel Drew. We’re now bing-watching all your YT vid’s. This is the first recipe we’ve made and it will definitely be a go-to. Thank you for making nutrition so simple.

PUL Team - Aug. 13, 2021, 2:08 a.m.

So grateful you found PUL through our good friend Nathaniel! Welcome to the PUL community, Sherri 🥰

Reply
Anabella - July 29, 2021, 4:48 p.m.

My husband & I love all of your recipes! We especially love this red vegan pesto! So delicious as a veggie dip or with pita chips! Thank you!

PUL Team - July 30, 2021, 12:07 a.m.

Oh, Anabella, this means so much! So thrilled you're enjoying the pesto ☺️

Reply
Lynne - July 27, 2021, 10:53 a.m.

This is the most delicious spread literally ever!! My go to for breakfast, add it to some warm toast and the slices of avocado on top are truly magical. My non vegan friends were instantly asking me for this recipe. Give it a go, you won’t regret it!

PUL Team - July 28, 2021, 9:05 p.m.

So glad you're enjoying the pesto, Lynne, thank you 😃

Reply
Kayla - July 27, 2021, 7:40 a.m.

This pesto is just outrageous! I have made it so many times that I practically have this recipe memorized!! And my family is just as obsessed with it as I am. Can't thank you enough Sadia!!!

PUL Team - July 28, 2021, 8:38 p.m.

Oh so lovely, Kayla, thanks for sharing your review 🤗

Reply
Vivian H. - July 23, 2021, 11:26 a.m.

So simple yet so life-changing!

Reply
Catriona Fida - July 12, 2021, 4:05 p.m.

I make this pesto every week! It’s so versatile and goes with absolutely everything.

Reply
Ellie - July 11, 2021, 12:03 a.m.

Ta game changer - I love having this recipe up my sleeve! Tasty, filling and easy.

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Evelina V - July 9, 2021, 2:25 p.m.

Dude, everyone should try this!!! It's super delicious and very versatile.
We are enjoying this even more in the summer since it's so hot and this is super easy to make. We are usually having this with some homemade bread and some homemade hummus, guacamole (or just smashed avocados with some lime if we are lazy) and lots of fresh veggies like tomatoes/cucumbers/bell peppers. It's a feast.
Thank you for all your amazing ideas, PUL team 🙏

PUL Team - July 14, 2021, 9:50 p.m.

Aww thank you for the lovely review, Evelina, your support means so much to us ✨💖

Reply
Anna - July 8, 2021, 10:33 p.m.

The Sun-dried Tomato Red Pesto recipe has to be my FAVORITE recipe on this blog! So so good. It's super simple and quick, and it pairs really well with a bagel and red onion. I also just eat the pesto with some whole-wheat crackers, and it never fails to make my day. Thank you Sadia!

PUL Team - July 11, 2021, 2:50 p.m.

We appreciate this so much, Anna! Thank you for sharing ✨😃

Reply
Erin - July 8, 2021, 8:07 p.m.

Take your sandwiches from "yeah, that's a good sandwich" to "daaaaaammnn okkkk that's a SANDWICH!" with this incredible pesto
Delicious and easy to make, thanks for the recipe!

PUL Team - July 12, 2021, 7:26 a.m.

This makes us so happy to hear, Erin! Thank you for the lovely review 😃

Reply
Katja - June 27, 2021, 12:59 p.m.

Hi Sadia,
I just tried out your red pesto.. it is delicious 😋!!! Had it on bread with some fresh sprouts. Thanks so much for sharing.. will definetly try more of your recipes.. I guess hummes is up next (never had it before, so it is going to be a first)..
Have a great day!

Greetings from your neighbor Germany ❤
Katja

PUL Team - June 29, 2021, 2:03 a.m.

Hey Katja, we're so glad you enjoyed the pesto! How exciting to be trying hummus soon as well - it's one of our favorites 😍 Lots of love to Germany ✨

Reply
Nicole - June 5, 2021, 8:12 p.m.

Amazing! It was so good 🤤

Reply
Suela - April 9, 2021, 5:54 p.m.

I am allergic to nuts. What can I used instead of almonds? I was thinking tahini, but I think the strong smell/taste will overpower the paste

PUL Team - April 10, 2021, 2:12 a.m.

Hi Suela! Sunflower seeds or pepitas (roasted pumpkin seeds) would probably work well. Let us know how it goes if you try it out 😄

Reply