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Vegan Spinach Pesto (Oil-free)

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How to make the most delicious healthy Vegan Spinach Pesto that is dairy-free, oil-free, gluten-free and made with wholesome ingredients like fresh spinach, peas, roasted pecans and Italian seasoning for extra flavor! Goes great as a side dip for veggies or mixed into pasta or as a pizza base!

VEGAN SPINACH PESTO

I love making homemade healthy vegan pesto. Especially, showing how delicious oil-free pesto can be. Classic pesto recipes are full of oil and dairy (parmesan cheese) and not exactly plant-based.

Most store-bought pesto is full of fat, sodium and preservatives. Traditional pesto is made with basil, garlic, olive oil and parmesan cheese. While delicious, I’ve never liked how excessively oily it is. And this version has no basil!

So, this is definitely much different, but I can promise you that this vegan spinach pesto with peas will knock your taste buds off! It’s only 7 ingredients. It is savory, has a rich umami flavor, but isn’t bitter, thanks to some peas to add a touch of sweetness. I promise you the flavor is all very well balanced, not to mention, this spinach pea pesto healthy and much lower in fat than traditional, even vegan, pesto recipes.

Trust me, you will love this oil-free vegan pesto! If you prefer a traditional pesto made with basil, check this one out!

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

  • Peas: Adding sweet green peas to spinach helps give flavor and a touch of sweetness to this oil-free vegan pesto. It is different, but absolutely delicious.
  • Pecans: Instead of pine nuts, like in traditional pesto, I used pecans here for a lovely robust, deep buttery flavor. It goes so well with the sweetness of the peas.
  • Garlic
  • Lemon juice
  • Nutritional yeast: This replaces that cheesy flavor that parmesan typically provides in traditional pesto.
  • Italian seasoning: I use my homemade blend.
  • Fresh spinach: We are using spinach instead of basil here, for a twist. It is delicious, trust me!

HOW TO MAKE VEGAN SPINACH PESTO

Step 1: Toast the pecans first. This gives a much deeper flavor to the pesto.

roasted pecans in stainless steel pan on stove with wooden spoon

Step 2: Add all of the ingredients to a food processor or high-powered blender, starting with adding the water first. Note, it tends to be more challenging to blend in a blender since there’s little room and liquid. Scrape the sides many times as needed in the beginning. Blend until completely smooth.

WAYS TO SERVE THIS SPINACH PESTO

  • Pasta. This oil-free vegan spinach pea pesto is so delicious mixed in with pasta. Top with my lemon vegan parmesan cheese and you have yourself a hearty, filling and healthy plant-based dinner!
  • Pizza: As you can see here, I made the most epic and delicious vegan pesto pizza. Let me tell you, this turned out to be one of the most delicious restaurant-worthy recipe creations I’ve made. Both my daughter and I LOVED IT. It is served on my homemade vegan flatbread, which is next-level!
  • Dip: This is excellent served just with chips or even veggies. While it is good cold, I think it tastes much more alive and rich in flavor, warmed up!

pesto on flatbread with vegan parmesan cheese on wood platter

MORE VEGAN PESTO RECIPES

  • Sun Dried Pesto
  • Vegan Kale Pesto Pasta
  • Spinach Arugula Pesto
overhead image of white marble platter with bowl of vegan spinach pesto in white bowl

Vegan Spinach Pesto (Oil-free)

Brandi Doming
How to make the most delicious healthy Vegan Spinach Pesto that is dairy-free, oil-free, gluten-free and made with wholesome ingredients like fresh spinach, peas, roasted pecans and Italian seasoning for extra flavor! Goes great as a side dip for veggies or mixed into pasta or as a pizza base!
5 from 22 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 3 minutes mins
Total Time 13 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Sides
Cuisine American, Vegan
Yields 0

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup (35g) pecans
  • 6 tablespoons (90g) water
  • 1 cup (140g) cooked peas (I used frozen)
  • 2-3 large cloves of garlic, to taste, since sizes can vary so much
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) fresh lemon juice and 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons (14g) of nutritional yeast (I use and recommend the Sari brand-it's unfortified and has better flavor)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 very firmly packed cups (100g) fresh spinach, weigh for accuracy
  • I use this scale.

Instructions
 

  • Lightly toast the pecans in a small pan over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring often. Watch closely so they don't burn! Once they start smelling fragrant and looking toasty, they are done. You have to be very careful or they can go from fragrant to burnt, quickly.
  • Add the frozen peas (straight from the bag) to the microwave or stove to warm up. I did 1 minute in the microwave. You don't want to add them frozen or it will be difficult to process.
  • Add all of the ingredients, except the spinach, starting with the water first, into a food processor. I tested with both a wide blender and a food processor and found the food processor works much better because of the space being wider.
  • Pulse until thick and creamy, scraping the sides down often many times in the beginning, as needed, getting it roughly smooth.
  • Add the spinach and process until very smooth and creamy, as pictured. I like mine really smooth. Taste and add any additional salt/spices, if desired. Should be smooth, delicious, tart, savory and a touch of sweetness from the peas!
  • Serve with homemade tortilla chips, veggies, over pasta or as a base for pizza to make a pesto pizza!

Notes

This pesto will last 4-5 days in the fridge. To use again, just reheat in the microwave until warm. I do this before using it on my flatbread recipe.
Tried this recipe?Tag @thevegan8brandi on Instagram and use tag #thevegan8!
Keyword dairy free pesto, healthy pesto, oil-free pesto, vegan spinach pesto

The Vegan 8 is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my full disclosure policy here.

Filed Under: Appetizers, Dips/Sauces, Gluten-free, No Bake, Snacks Tagged With: appetizer, Gluten free, lemon, peas, pesto, Sides, spinach

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Comments

  1. Rebekah

    July 23, 2025 at 10:00 pm

    This is unexpectantly delicious. Perfectly balanced. Thank you

    Reply
  2. Kaesey

    July 22, 2025 at 5:19 pm

    5 stars
    This pesto is delicious, it’s my new go-to. I never would have thought of adding the peas but it works so well. I subbed the pecans for sunflower seeds and added a little more salt, then used it for my pesto potato salad.

    Reply
  3. Lorenza

    March 4, 2024 at 10:23 pm

    5 stars
    This is a great recipe, thanks for sharing it!
    Atm I am switching to a GERD-friendly diet and one of the most difficult things for me to replace is tomato sauce for pasta. I did this pesto (unfortunately had to skip garlic & lemon) and it was really delish, will keep it to make again!

    Reply
    • brandi.doming@yahoo.com

      March 5, 2024 at 8:36 am

      I’m so happy you loved it Lorenza!!

      Reply
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I'm Brandi, cookbook author of The Vegan 8 Cookbook and latest cookbook, Vegan Wholesome, now available to preorder!. Many of my recipes focus on 8 ingredients or less, not counting salt, pepper or water, but not all of them. I love to create health-focused recipes, using whole foods to improve fitness and muscle-building, with the occasional comfort meal thrown in there! I'm an expert on oil-free cooking and baking!

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