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Fresh Pesto Recipe on a Budget

Once in a while, you will find fresh basil leaves at Birch in large quantities. This pesto recipe is easy to put together quickly and it’s always a great crowd-pleaser. Serve it on pasta, pizza, or even in sandwiches.
 
This recipe is dairy-free, but you can also add grated parmesan for extra richness. Enjoy!
basil, lemon and pesto

Easy Dairy-Free Pesto Recipe

Ingredients
  • 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
  • 1/2 cup walnuts or pine nuts or raw cashew nuts
  • 1/3 cup canola oil or olive oil
  • 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon of sale
  • 1/3 cup of water (if you find the sauce too thick)

Blend all the ingredients together until smooth. If you don’t have a blender, you can make this recipe in a food processor. 

pesto in a white bowl topped with a sprig of basil

Tips

  1. Walmart sells small bags of pine nuts that are affordable. Alternatively, you can use raw cashews or walnuts and even sunflower seeds.
  2. Watch the Birch shelves for alternatives to pine nuts to reduce the cost even further.
  3. Make several batches and freeze some for a rainy day!
pesto pasta in a grey bowl with a sprig of basil on top
Picture of Mélissa Silva

Mélissa Silva

Mélissa Silva is the financial literacy class assistant at Birch and a proud wife and mom who loves to feed her family healthy, tasty meals on a budget.