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    Home » Recipe » Vegan Mint Basil Pesto with Pistachios (Gluten Free and Dairy Free too)

    Vegan Mint Basil Pesto with Pistachios (Gluten Free and Dairy Free too)

    Published: Apr 10, 2018 · Modified: Mar 14, 2023 by Sabrina Currie · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Fresh basil and mint make a fantastic, bright pesto that will have everyone asking for the recipe. Naturally gluten free and dairy free, this only takes a few minutes to whip up and has a ton of fresh and bold flavor!

    Mint Basil Pistachio Pesto Ingredients
    Mint Basil Pistachio Pesto Ingredients

    This recipe is a long time family favourite and a delicious way to add in nutrient dense herbs. Our mint, basil, pistachio pesto has adapted and evolved over the years. When one of our children went vegan for many years we omitted the parmesan cheese, added a little more garlic and salt and have enjoyed it like that ever since. 

    Not using parmesan definitely gives the pesto a fresher and brighter flavor profile. It is a great way to use up your prolific mint and basil. It is easy to find vegan pasta and pairing that with this pesto makes a pretty healthy vegan dinner. (If you have space, grow your own basil to make this recipe with pennies!)

    I am a big fan of using herbs and have a Sorrel Pesto recipe, Almond Pesto and a Vegan Parsley Pesto With Hazelnuts. Warm Marinated Olives make a great appetizer and Fresh Medjool Dates and Carrot Salad is a great side. For serving, in addition to pasta, pesto is delicious on top of Vegan Italian White Beans. Finish off dinner with Vegan Lemon Poppyseed Muffins 🙂

    Jump to:
    • Is Pesto Gluten Free?
    • How To Make This Classic Recipe
    • How To Make The Traditional Recipe
    • How To Freeze
    • Other Recipes Using Mint and Basil
    • What To Eat With Pesto
    • Delegate
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe

    Is Pesto Gluten Free?

    The happy answer is yes! This recipe is gf, vegan and even dairy free which differs from traditional pesto. While classic pesto recipes include parmesan cheese, they do not include any gluten if you make them from scratch with fresh ingredients.

    How To Make This Classic Recipe

    Making pesto is really easy. The key is to chop all your herbs in the food processor before you add the oil. If you add oil before or with the herbs, they can be too slippery to chop properly.

    Start by adding your garlic, nuts and salt to the food processor and process until finely ground (no one wants big chunks of garlic). Process until they are a sandy texture, then add herbs a ½ c or so at a time. Pulse repeatedly until you've added them all and they are as fine as you want them. Then turn on processor and drizzle in oil until desired consistency. Taste and adjust salt as you like.

    You can also make this with a mortar and pestle which is truly the more traditional way. This will give you a more rustic texture which some people prefer. Add your garlic and salt first and grind to a paste. Continue by adding the pistachios and grind until they are the texture you like. Next comes the mint and basil and once it is all a lovely finely ground consistency, add in your oil. You may use less oil making your mint basil pesto this way, use your judgement as you go.

    Fresh Mint Is Delicious In These Best Recipes
    Fresh Mint Is Delicious In These Best Recipes

    How To Make The Traditional Recipe

    Traditional pesto is simple - finely hand chopped garlic, pine nuts and basil, blended with olive oil and seasoned with parmesan cheese and possibly salt depending on how you're going to use it. You can definitely prepare this pesto the same way. Hand chopping with a good sharp knife or mezzaluna make this a more traditional texture and gives a little more variation in flavor when you are eating it. It also makes this a very meditative recipe...may I suggest a glass of dry Italian white wine while you work? (If you plan to serve this with meat you might omit the salt but if spreading over a large amount of pasta, you could use a little more salt.)

    How To Freeze

    This recipe freezes really well! To freeze, pack it into ½ c jars or containers and put a little drizzle of olive oil on top to keep the air off and the color still bright green. Then simply put in freezer with good air flow around the containers until it is frozen. Once frozen, you can pack you freezer containers tightly.  (If using glass jars, be sure to leave some head space (1-2 cm at of air at the top) for expansion and keep the lid loose until it has frozen through.)

    Mint Basil Pesto-Vegan GF and Dairy Free
    Mint Basil Pesto-Vegan GF and Dairy Free

    Other Recipes Using Mint and Basil

    Do you grow mint ? Or do you have wild mint growing nearby? Mint is more versatile than many realize and I made a recipe round up full of recipes using this bright and fresh herb. Check out my 25 Best Mint recipes here. I also have the recipe for making Fresh Mint Tea at the bottom of the Green Family Farm post which is an all time favourite. And last but not least, I love my Basil Aioli Dip for veggies, eggs and sandwiches.

    Kate's Fresh Mint Tea From The Garden
    Kate's Fresh Mint Tea From The Garden

    What To Eat With Pesto

    My children love this on tortellini or spiral pasta. If you are vegan or gluten free, there are now many pastas that can accommodate your diet. Alternatively you can use spiralized veggie noodles.

    To make an easy gluten free dairy free snack, spread pesto over some gf crackers, top with a slice of ripe tomato and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Summertime heaven 🙂 If you don't mind dairy, spread it on bruschetta and top with fresh mozzarella and then sliced cherry tomatoes. A perfect (and easy) Caprese bruschetta!

    Pesto is also a great condiment with lamb chops, Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin, grilled chicken or use a leftover tablespoon or two to stir into a basic vinaigrette of 2 or 3 parts olive oil to 1 part white wine vinegar.  If you like Italian flavours, this is gold. This pistachio pesto pasta is an easy side dish too, pair it with any grilled meat or tofu.

    Microgreens and carrot risotto makes a flavorul and fun side dish as does Radicchio Orange Salad or Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad.

    Vegan Mint Basil Pesto Recipe-Vegan
    Mint Basil Pesto Recipe-Vegan

    Delegate

    Fresh herb pesto made with mint, basil and pistachios is a bright, kid friendly favourite. A punchy yet milder flavour than versions with parmesan. This is an excellent dish when you are feeding company with various dietary restrictions because it covers almost all common allergies.

    Because my children beg me to make it, I get them involved by delegating. They shelling the nuts which they do happily. Do you have a favourite "non-traditional" pesto? I would love to hear what different types of pesto you have made!

    Basil Mint Pesto
    Basil Mint Pesto

    Whether you make the traditional basil and parmesan, my sorrel version, this vegan basil mint pesto or make one up with a combination of ingredients, you are in for a fresh and flavourful dinner. Pesto is ALWAYS made with fresh ingredients and the flavour is unparalleled. It is a punchy condiment delicious with almost any type of starch or protein from tofu to fish to meat or pasta, gnocchi, salad and more. (One of my favourite salads ever is a "simple" garden salad with peas and a pesto dressing from Courtenay's Atlas Cafe. If you're in the area, you've gotta try it!)

    Mint Basil Pistachio Pesto vegan and gluten free
    Mint Basil Pesto

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    For more on what I'm cooking up, follow me on Instagram or Facebook. You might also like my FREE printable weekly meal planner.

    Cheers friends! Sabrina

    Recipe

    Basil Mint Pesto Recipe Finished Is Bright Green, Fragrant And Delicious

    Vegan Basil Mint Pesto with Pistachios

    A simple yet incredible flavorful vegan pesto that will keep you coming back for more. This is our most popular recipe and for good reason. A wonderful gluten free dairy free snack or meal.
    Vegan, dairy-free and GF.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 1.5 cups
    Author: Sabrina Currie

    Ingredients

    • ½ c Fresh Shelled Pistachios
    • ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
    • 2 Cloves Peeled Garlic
    • 1 c Basil loosely packed
    • 1 c Mint loosely packed
    • ½ c Olive Oil You can use as little as ¼ c if you want this to be much thicker and more of a paste consistency

    Instructions

    • Chop nuts in food processor (or a mortar and pestle) until fine, add salt and garlic and pulse until garlic is minced.
    • Add herbs ½ c at a time until finely chopped. Then drizzle in olive oil until desired consistency. (Should be thick but spreadable)
    • Adjust with Salt and Pepper to taste.
    • Serve with fresh pasta or spiralized and steamed veggies.
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @wckitchengarden or tag #wckitchengarden!
    Mint Basil Pistachio Pesto Ingredients
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    My Kids Shelling Pistachio Nuts For Vegan Dairy Free Pesto
    Grind Nuts And Garlic Before Adding Herbs

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    About Sabrina Currie

    Classically French trained cook, photographer and food stylist living on beautiful Vancouver Island, BC.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chef Dennis

      April 10, 2021 at 12:24 am

      5 stars
      This Vegan Basil Mint Pesto with Pistachios is making me crave!

      Reply
    2. Jere

      April 10, 2021 at 11:28 am

      5 stars
      I just planted three basil plants, parsley and chives. Maybe I should start some mint.

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        April 11, 2021 at 6:00 pm

        I love mint! Just make sure you put it in a pot unless you’re u don’t mind it spreading!

        Reply
    3. Jessica Formicola

      April 12, 2021 at 11:46 am

      5 stars
      I absolutely love pesto, but I don't usually make my own. This recipe is going to change that! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply

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