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Basil Salad Dressing
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly take on a creamy basil pesto salad dressing, you’ve found it! By substituting expensive pine nuts for a low-budget alternative, this pesto-inspired basil salad dressing packs in heaps of flavor at a very cheap price!
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
Servings:
16
servings
Calories:
113 kcal
Course:
Condiments
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 3 cups basil leaves
- ¾ cup of water
- ½ cup olive oil extra virgin
- 1 cup peanut
- lemon juice of half small
- salt pinch
- black pepper pinch
- red chili flakes to taste, optional
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Adjust the texture: Since this basil salad dressing contains peanuts, it’s naturally slightly chunky. If you want a smoother sauce, you’ll need to process it for longer. Alternatively, to help get a smoother lemon basil dressing, you can soak the peanuts in cold water for around 7-8 hrs. (overnight works best). As a bonus, soaking the peanuts can also neutralize the phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors making them easier to digest, cause less bloating, and even increase your vitamin and mineral absorption.
- Experiment with the herbs: This sounds a bit odd to write on a basil pesto vinaigrette recipe, but you can experiment with substituting the basil for other herbs/greens like cilantro, mint, or even arugula, etc.
- If you can’t get fresh basil: Then you can still make a ‘cheat’ version of this pesto salad dressing by replacing the basil with any store-bought basil pesto.
- Can I make a creamy basil dressing that is nut and seed-free? You may be able to make a version of this dressing using cooked white beans in place of the peanuts, which are neutral in flavor AND low budget (yay!). However, we haven’t tried – so can’t guarantee results.
- Adjust the texture: Since this basil salad dressing contains peanuts, it’s naturally slightly chunky. If you want a smoother sauce, you’ll need to process it for longer. Alternatively, to help get a smoother lemon basil dressing, you can soak the peanuts in cold water for around 7-8 hrs. (overnight works best). As a bonus, soaking the peanuts can also neutralize the phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors making them easier to digest, cause less bloating, and even increase your vitamin and mineral absorption.
- Experiment with the herbs: This sounds a bit odd to write on a basil pesto vinaigrette recipe, but you can experiment with substituting the basil for other herbs/greens like cilantro, mint, or even arugula, etc.
- If you can’t get fresh basil: Then you can still make a ‘cheat’ version of this pesto salad dressing by replacing the basil with any store-bought basil pesto.
- Can I make a creamy basil dressing that is nut and seed-free? You may be able to make a version of this dressing using cooked white beans in place of the peanuts, which are neutral in flavor AND low budget (yay!). However, we haven’t tried – so can’t guarantee results.
Nutrition Information
Calories
113kcal
(6%)
Carbohydrates
2g
(1%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
11g
(17%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
(12%)
Monounsaturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Sodium
3mg
(0%)
Potassium
83mg
(2%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
237IU
(5%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
18mg
(2%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 16 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 113
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 113kcal | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 2g | 1% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Sodium | 3mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 83mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 237IU | 5% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 18mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.