Homemade spinach pesto is easy to make, and packed with the goodness of spinach, olive oil, and walnut. This healthy Italian pesto dip goes very well with pasta, veggies and a spread over sandwiches or bruschetta. Making spinach pesto is also a great way to use spinach and a perfect dish for winters and early spring. Using only a few ingredients this spinach pesto is vegan and gluten-free and ready in 5 minutes.
Pesto is a sauce originating in Genoa, Italy. Traditionally it was made by pounding basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic cloves, olive oil and Parmesan Cheese in a pestle and mortar. But today it is very easy and hassles free task to make at home by using a food processor. Just add everything in the jar and grind till a smooth consistency.
Spinach pesto is a milder version of basil pesto. Simply add all ingredients in a food processor and grind till the smooth consistency. There are few variations
- Replace spinach with kale, coriander/cilantro, basil, or any greens to get another version of the pesto.
- For nuts, you can use any nut like pecan, almond, cashew, walnut, pine nuts, pista.
- To make nut-free pesto simply eliminate nuts and grind rest of the ingredient. It will still taste great.
- To make vegan pesto avoid adding parmesan cheese. I don't add cheese in my pesto recipes being vegetarian.
- I made spinach pesto without adding Parmesan Cheese. You can add ½ cup with the rest of the ingredients. If you find pesto bitter then add more.
- Add 2 Tblsp olive oil before serving to get pouring consistency.
- You can store in the refrigerator for 4-5 days easily. Just cover up the olive oil to cover the surface. It becomes darker with time, just mix everything nicely and serve.
So far I have tried adding all nuts, pine nuts, almonds, cashew, and walnut. But at home, we all love this walnut version of pesto. I made spinach pesto without adding Parmesan Cheese. Recently upgraded my knowledge that it contains animal rennet and not considered as vegetarian.
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To make any pesto this is the simple formula to work on.
Greens (basil, spinach, kale, cilantro, green coriander, rosemary, chives ) + Nuts(pine nuts, almond, cashew, walnut, pista) + garlic clove + Lemon juice + Olive oil + Salt
So let see how to make this creamy, healthy, vegan, gluten-free spinach pesto without parmesan cheese at home.
Spinach Pesto | How To Make Pasta Without Parmesan Cheese
Ingredient make 1.5 cup spinach pesto
1.5 Cup tightly packed spinach
2 Tblsp dry basil (optional)
1 Tsp salt
4 Garlic Cloves
¼ Cup olive oil
1 Cup dry roasted walnut
1.5 Tblsp lemon juice
1 Tsp agave syrup (you can use honey or sugar as well)
Method
- Add spinach, dry basil, garlic cloves, salt, walnuts, lemon juice and agave syrup in the grinding jar and blend until everything mixed.
- Scrap down from the sides and add olive oil. Grind till you get a smooth paste-like consistency.
- If pesto looks thicker just add 2-3 tbsp olive oil more and blend again.
- Spinach pesto is ready to serve and use.
Note
- You can store in the fridge for 4-5 days. Cover the surface with olive oil, though it becomes darker with each passing day.
- To make nut-free eliminate nuts in the pesto and still will taste great.
- To make vegan do not use parmesan cheese.
If you try this recipe then we would love to see your creation. Do share a photo with us on code2cook2017@gmail.com or tag me at Instagram @code2cook using hashtag #code2cook.
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Spinach Pesto With Walnut | Vegan | Gluten-Free | How To Make Spinach Pesto Without Parmesan Cheese
Ingredients
- 1.5 Cup tightly packed spinach
- 2 Tblsp dry basil (optional)
- 1 Tsp salt
- 4 Garlic Cloves
- ¼ Cup olive oil
- 1 Cup dry roasted walnut
- 1.5 Tblsp lemon juice
- 1 Tsp agave syrup (you can use honey or sugar as well)
Instructions
- Add spinach, dry basil, garlic cloves, salt, walnuts, lemon juice and agave syrup in the grinding jar and blend until everything mixed.
- Scrap down from the sides and add olive oil. Grind till you get a smooth paste-like consistency.
- If pesto looks thicker just add 2-3 tbsp olive oil more and blend again.Spinach pesto is ready to serve and use.
Notes
- You can store in the fridge for 4-5 days. Cover the surface with olive oil, though it becomes darker with each passing day.
- To make nut-free eliminate nuts in the pesto and still will taste great.
- To make vegan do not use parmesan cheese.
Nutrition
This is my entry for BM #94 W3 D1 for Dips For Snack theme.
Pavani
That is such a delicious and creamy looking pesto made with spinach. I think my family will love this with pasta.
code2cook
yeah this spinach pesto actually was awesome.
Srivalli Jetti
This pesto sounds fantastic..will surely make it sometime!
Vaishali
I tried this recipe and boy!! it was awesome.
code2cook
Thanks you my dear for trying Spinach Pesto.
Sushma Pinjala
Yum, spinach pesto looks so delicious. Good one
Neeraj Kumar
Just nice to know another new recipe from Bhawana's armory.
code2cook
hahahaha Thanks Neeraj for appreciating.
harini
That is a brilliant version of pesto. I shall try to make it soon.
code2cook
Thanks Harini for liking spinach pesto.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan
I have never tried any other version of pesto other than basil. I have been thinking of trying something different. Looks so beautiful.
code2cook
Just try this spinach pesto and you will love it for sure.
Gayathri Kumar
Such a vibrant looking pesto with spinach and walnuts. Looking at the ingredients, I am sure it tastes amazing too..
code2cook
yeah actually it tasted amazing as a spread on bread. My son loved this.
Chef Mireille
spinach pesto is one of my fave pesto varieties and I make it often. your Vegan version looks wonderful
code2cook
Thanks Mir for appreciating Spinach pesto without cheese recipe.
Priya Suresh
Fingerlicking pesto, seriously my pesto loving kids will go crazy if they see this catchy green pesto.. Simply love the way you have dished out this incredible pesto with spinach leaves.
code2cook
Thanks Priya for appreciating I am glad.
Punam Paul
Very good green dip.
Usha
Spinach looks amazing. It so versatile and can be used in many ways.
code2cook
Thanks for liking Spinach pesto recipe.
Rafeeda - The Big Sweet Tooth
Love the idea of making spinach pesto... very flavorful!
Srividhya Gopalakrishnan
Love your pesto recipe. Never added agave. Guess what, I posted spinach pesto this week as well. 🙂 Great share.
code2cook
Thanks Srividya,wow same pinch. I loved this spinach pesto.