Oil-Free Arugula Pesto (Vegan)
User Reviews
5
Oil-Free Arugula Pesto (Vegan)
Description
Oil-Free Arugula Pesto combines fresh arugula and basil leaves with raw walnuts, garlic cloves, and lemon juice in a food processor. Water is added to aid blending, producing a pesto that is flavorful yet lighter without traditional oil. Processing until the desired chunky texture is reached allows control over the sauce consistency. The lemon juice brightens the flavor, while salt enhances the overall taste. Garlic quantity can be adjusted depending on preference for its pungency.
The finished pesto can be used as a sauce for pasta, a spread for bread, or a flavorful addition to roasted vegetables. Because it contains fresh herbs and no preservatives, it is best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consumed within a week to maintain flavor and freshness.
Ingredients
- 1 cup arugula fresh
- 1 cup basil fresh
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 2 garlic to taste, to 3 cloves
- 1/2 cup walnut raw
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt , plus more to taste
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a small food processor and process until everything is broken down. I prefer my pesto to have a bit of a chunky texture, but you can use a blender if you would like a smoother result.
- Once the pesto is smooth enough, taste it and adjust any seasonings as needed. When you use fresh ingredients, the taste will always vary by batch, so I usually end up adding an extra splash of lemon juice or an extra pinch of salt to make it taste "just right." Also, I think it should be noted that I love a spicy punch of garlic, so 3 cloves is usually perfect for me, but if you're not the biggest garlic fan, you might only want to start with 1 or 2 cloves and add more to taste. The nice thing about making a blended sauce like this one is you can always taste as you go and adjust as needed.
- Because these ingredients are all fresh, I'd recommend keeping this sauce stored in an airtight container in the fridge for no longer than a week for best flavor.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 1cup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 406 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 406kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 12g | 4% |
| Protein | 10g | 20% |
| Fat | 38g | 58% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Sodium | 593mg | 25% |
| Potassium | 402mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 1740IU | 35% |
| Vitamin C | 17.1mg | 19% |
| Calcium | 143mg | 14% |
| Iron | 2.8mg | 16% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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