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Easy Vegan Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

You have to try this Vegan Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto! It's simple to make, delicious on top of pizza, pasta and zucchini noodles, and can even be served as a dip!

I first developed this sun dried tomato pesto recipe to top my Quinoa Pizza Crust. But since then, I whip this up for everything from pasta to sandwiches. It's full of umami from the tomatoes and has a creamy, smooth texture like basil pesto. If you love traditional pesto, you've got to try this new tomatoey spin on it.

Making Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

This pesto still has plenty of herby flavor from basil, but it gets a major flavor boost. It also is fast and easy to make in a food processor.

ingredients for pesto with sun dried tomatoes, garlic, lemon, olive oil, pine nuts and basil

Ingredients

Here's what you need to make dairy-free sun-dried tomato pesto:

  • Nutritional yaest. This is the secret to repalce cheese in your pesto sauce. It's cheesy without the dairy.
  • Basil. Use plenty of fresh, vibrant basil leaves for the pesto.
  • Sun-dried tomatoes. I recommend oil-packed if you can find them.
  • Pine nuts. You can also use walnuts if you're out of pine nuts.
  • Garlic. For the signatureItaian flavor.
  • Lemon juice. To brighten up the flavor and color.
  • Olive oil. Use a nice quality oil that tsates great.
close up on a jar of sun dried tomato pesto with basil

Benefits of Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast isn't just a great dairy-free alternative to parmesan. This vegan ingredient is packed with plant-based protein (1 tablespoon as 4g of protein!), but it's also usually fortified with vitamin B12, B6, Niacin, and Zinc. And did I mention it tastes like cheese?

How to Use This Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

I've used this pesto on pretty much everything and it's delicious. It goes really well with quinoa pizza, like I mentioned, but it's also delicious with:

glass jar of sun dried tomato pesto with nuts and basil

More Pesto Recipes

How to Video: Making Vegan Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

If you make this vegan sun dried tomato pesto, be sure to let me know what you think with a comment below!

Easy Vegan Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

4.9 from 13 votes
This fun twist on classic pesto is vegan and gluten-free. Use this sun-dried tomato pesto on your favorite pasta, pizzas or as a healthy dip for crackers!
author: Alyssa
yield: 8
overhead of sun dried tomato pesto in a glass canning jar
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups basil packed
  • 1 cup sun dried tomatoes (preferably packed in oil)
  • 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 1 – 2 garlic cloves
  • Juice of 1/2 a lemon
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 – 3 tablespoons water

Instructions
 

  • Add everything into a food processor (aside from the oil and water). Process until combined. Remove the lid and scrape down the sides with a spatula.
    overhead collage of making sun dried tomato pesto in a food processor
  • Place the lid back on and with the food processor running, drizzle in the olive oil. Then drizzle in the water, starting with 2 tablespoons and adding more if you need it.
    overhead of adding olive oil into a food processor making pesto
  • Scrape down the sides a few times and process again until smooth.
    overhead of sun dried tomato pesto in food processor bowl
  • Transfer to a glass container and store in the fridge for up 5 days or the freezer for up to 6 months.
    overhead of sun dried tomato pesto in a glass canning jar

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 154kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 120mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g
cuisine: Italian
course: Condiment

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10 comments on “Easy Vegan Sun Dried Tomato Pesto”

  1. This was absolutely amazing. I subbed one of the tablespoons of olive oil for the oil that the tomatoes were packed in. We ate it with zucchini noodles two ways: Shaved and layered like a lasagna and also just mixed into spiralized “zoodles.” I think this would be amazing as well on a savory grilled cheese sandwich or a panini style sandwich.

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  4. I left our as mych oil as possible. I roasted tomatoes in the oven with a it of oil and garlic since I had very little sundried tomatoes to work with nor lemon juice nor fresh basil. Lol I was determined to say the least. It’s fantastic! Raw cashews also work. Spreading this on naan bread and toasting in the oven. Can’t wait

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  6. What is the serving size?
    Interesting concept but sundried tomatoes do have a ton of fat and combined with the olive oil…
    I’ll have to check this out.