Fresh yellow cherry tomato vegan pesto

An easy 5 ingredient, 1 step, dairy-free pesto

This creamy vegan pesto has a subtle nutty + tomato flavour, with a hint of spice! Perfect to dip biscuits, spread on pizza bases, or even splashed on top of fresh pasta! A healthy all-rounder.

Traditional pesto usually relies on parmesan or pecorino cheese to thicken and add a rich nutty flavour.
I’ve substituted the cheese for extra walnuts, giving you a fresh, dairy-free option. The walnuts work to add the creaminess and flavours required for traditional tasting pesto.

Fresh pesto is so easy to make, since there is no pre-cooking, there is no prep work! All you have to do is add all your ingredients to a blender/food pressor, blend, and you’re ready to serve.

You’ll need

Ingredients

• 100 grams pine nuts
• 50 grams walnuts
• 500 grams yellow tomatoes
• 1 red chilli
• 1 handful fresh basil

Equipment

• Food processor/blender
• Kitchen scales

The tomatoes aren’t pre-cooked, does this make the pesto runny?

The short answer is no. Fresh tomatoes hold a whole lot of juices, I counteracted this by adding extra nuts to this recipe. The walnuts balance out the added tomato juices as they give the pesto plenty of creaminess. This thickens the pesto and adds a subtle nutty flavour.

Can I substitute the walnuts for other nuts?

Similar nuts like pecans, cashews, and almonds, hazelnuts should give the pesto a similar texture. Substitute for equal parts.
For a similar, creamy texture try:

• Pecans
• Cashews
• Almonds
• Hazelnuts

Seeds are also a popular alternative for making pesto. Feel free to give sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds a try, just remember that they are not as meaty as the nut options and may not add a creamy texture that thickens the pesto – the pesto may be a bit watery using only seeds. Substitute for equal parts.
For a nut-free option try:

• Sunflower seeds
• Pumpkin seeds

How much does this make?

This recipe yields two containers, as photographed. Scale the recipe up or down to suit you. I found it’s the perfect amount to serve with fresh pasta for two, with an extra container to serve with crackers and olives.

Can I use red tomatoes?

Yes of course! Although, compared to red, yellow/orange cherry tomatoes have a sweeter taste and are less acidic. The sweetness is a good balance for the chili.

How to store

Store the pesto in an airtight container. Vegan pesto can be stored in the fridge for approximately 5 days. Pesto can be stored in the freezer for approximately 6 months.

Ways to use pesto

There are so many ways to use pesto, the list is endless. Here are some of my favourite ways to use fresh pesto:

• Used as pizza sauce -spread on a pizza base
• As a pasta sauce
• Spread on some freshly baked bread or flatbread
• As part of an antipasto platter

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