Vibrant Vegan Arugula Walnut Pesto

Prepare to transform your meals with this remarkable Walnut Pesto with Arugula and Spinach. This vibrant, dairy-free, and incredibly delicious pesto can be whipped up in just 5 minutes, offering an effortless way to infuse your dishes with fresh, wholesome flavor. You’ll instantly fall in love with the invigorating, peppery notes of fresh arugula, perfectly balanced by the subtle earthiness of spinach and the rich, nutty depth of toasted walnuts. Its radiant green color and lively taste will elevate everything from a simple weeknight pasta to sophisticated appetizers, adding a burst of freshness and essential nutrients to every bite.

This Vegan Walnut Pesto with Arugula and Spinach offers a delightful and innovative twist on traditional pesto. It’s a flavorful, fun, and surprisingly inexpensive alternative that doesn’t compromise on nutrition or taste. The carefully crafted combination of peppery arugula, subtly sweet toasted walnuts, and briny capers delivers an extraordinarily satisfying umami flavor profile that makes you completely forget about the dairy typically found in classic pestos. This unique blend creates a rich and creamy texture that’s truly addictive, proving that plant-based eating can be both easy and exceptionally delicious.

What Exactly is Pesto? Beyond the Traditional Basil and Pine Nuts

For many, the word “pesto” instantly conjures the image of a classic Genovese pesto: a bright green, aromatic sauce made with fresh basil leaves, pungent garlic, toasted pine nuts, hard Parmesan cheese, and a generous pour of olive oil. Originating from the Liguria region of Italy, this iconic sauce has become a global culinary staple, beloved for its fresh, vibrant flavor.

However, the true definition of “pesto” extends far beyond this single, albeit popular, rendition. The term itself derives from the Italian verb “pestare,” which means “to crush” or “to pound.” Historically, a pesto is any sauce or condiment prepared by crushing ingredients together, typically using a mortar and pestle. This ancient method of preparation has roots in various cultures and cuisines worldwide, predating the basil-based version that rose to fame.

Across different regions and eras, cooks have utilized local herbs, nuts, seeds, and oils to create their own unique pounded pastes. From the moretum of ancient Rome to diverse Mediterranean and Middle Eastern pastes, the art of transforming fresh, simple ingredients into a potent, flavorful condiment is a timeless culinary tradition. Embracing this broader understanding of pesto opens up a world of creative possibilities in the kitchen, allowing for endless variations tailored to seasonal ingredients, dietary needs, and personal preferences.

My own culinary philosophy often revolves around innovating classic recipes to make them healthier, more accessible, and equally, if not more, delicious. While I certainly enjoy crafting large batches of my beloved Vegan Basil Pesto during the bountiful summer months, I’m constantly exploring new combinations. After all, who wouldn’t appreciate a versatile dip, spread, or sauce that’s not only bursting with flavor but also loaded with beneficial nutrients? This adventurous spirit led to the creation of recipes like my popular Carrot Greens Pesto—a brilliantly sustainable way to utilize parts of vegetables that are often discarded, transforming them into a delightful and unexpected culinary treat.

This particular recipe for Vegan Walnut Arugula Pesto has quickly become a firm favorite in my kitchen. The ingredients are not only more affordable and readily available compared to traditional pesto components like pine nuts and expensive fresh basil, but they are also exceptionally nutrient-dense. The final product is a pesto that’s wonderfully light and fresh, embodying the vibrant essence of spring. Yet, it possesses a sturdy consistency that holds up beautifully when heated as a pasta sauce or spread generously on toast or crackers. Its incredible versatility makes it an indispensable addition to your recipe collection, providing a delicious and effortless way to incorporate more healthy greens into your daily diet.

Why This Vegan Walnut Arugula Pesto Shines Bright

This dairy-free pesto isn’t merely a substitute for its traditional counterpart; it’s a culinary star in its own right. It achieves a perfect harmony between the bold, peppery kick of arugula, the subtle, earthy sweetness of walnuts, and the bright, zesty tang of fresh lemon. By opting for a cheese-free recipe, it becomes an inclusive delight for those following vegan or dairy-free diets, while the strategic inclusion of nutritional yeast brilliantly replicates the coveted umami depth typically provided by Parmesan, without relying on any animal products. This recipe is a vibrant testament to the fact that healthy eating does not necessitate sacrificing rich flavor or luxurious texture. Instead, it offers a fresh, nutritious, and incredibly versatile pesto that’s equally at home adorning a quick weeknight dinner or serving as an elegant component of a sophisticated appetizer spread.

Key Ingredients & Flavorful Substitutions for Your Walnut Arugula Pesto

The secret to crafting an exceptional walnut arugula pesto lies in selecting the freshest, highest-quality ingredients. Each component plays a pivotal role in creating the unique flavor profile, vibrant color, and impressive nutritional richness of this delightful sauce. Below, we’ll delve deeper into the star ingredients, explaining their contributions, and offer smart substitutions to help you adapt the recipe to what you have on hand or to explore new taste dimensions.

• Arugula: This leafy green is undeniably the star of our pesto, imparting a wonderfully distinct peppery, slightly bitter, and savory taste that creates a refreshing contrast with the other ingredients. Beyond its captivating flavor, arugula is a nutritional powerhouse, remarkably low in calories yet abundant in essential vitamins K and A, calcium, and potent antioxidants, making it a truly outstanding nutrient-dense choice. Furthermore, arugula is typically much more affordable and consistently available than large quantities of fresh basil, especially when it’s not peak season, making this pesto both delicious and practical.
• Spinach: Integrated into the recipe for its mild, slightly sweet flavor, spinach acts as a perfect counterpoint to the more assertive arugula, helping to balance the overall taste while simultaneously boosting the pesto’s vibrant green hue. Spinach is celebrated for its incredible richness in iron, vitamin K, and vitamin A, contributing a significant layer of nutritional value without overwhelming the primary flavors. If you prefer a pesto with a milder peppery kick, you can easily increase the proportion of spinach to arugula.
• Walnuts: These provide the indispensable nutty foundation and creamy texture that are crucial for a satisfying pesto, serving as an exceptional alternative to the more traditional pine nuts. Dry-toasting the walnuts before blending is a game-changer; this simple step intensifies their natural oils and deepens their flavor, adding a wonderfully rich, earthy dimension to your pesto. Walnuts are also an outstanding source of plant-based protein, heart-healthy fats, and crucial omega-3 fatty acids, making this pesto particularly beneficial for cardiovascular health. An added bonus? Walnuts are significantly more budget-friendly than pine nuts!
• Hemp Seeds: These often-overlooked seeds are a quiet hero in this pesto, contributing a delicate nuttiness and a powerful nutritional boost. Hemp seeds are an excellent source of a balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, complete protein (containing all nine essential amino acids), and a spectrum of vital minerals. They also play a crucial role in achieving the wonderfully smooth and emulsified texture of the pesto. Should hemp seeds be unavailable, you can substitute them with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for a similar textural contribution and a slightly different, yet equally delicious, flavor profile.
• Capers: These small, briny flower buds are an absolutely essential component for achieving that coveted umami depth in vegan pesto. They deliver a concentrated burst of salty, savory tang that brilliantly mimics the complex flavors typically found in aged Italian cheeses, ensuring that you won’t miss the dairy whatsoever. Remember to drain them thoroughly before adding them to your food processor to avoid excess moisture.
• Nutritional Yeast:Affectionately known as “nooch” in vegan culinary circles, nutritional yeast is a quintessential ingredient in dairy-free cooking, prized for its distinctive cheesy, savory, and slightly nutty flavor. It’s a simple, healthy, and effective way to amplify the dairy-free profile of this recipe, providing not only that delicious umami kick but also a wealth of B vitamins. While I generally prefer to steer clear of highly processed fake cheese products, if you happen to have an extra 5 minutes, you could easily prepare my quick and delicious dairy-free parmesan cheese recipe and incorporate that instead of the straight nutritional yeast for an even more authentic cheesy essence.
• Lemon (Zest & Juice): Fresh lemon is truly indispensable to this pesto. The zest, with its concentrated aromatic oils, imparts vibrant, bright citrus notes that lift and awaken the entire flavor profile of the pesto. Meanwhile, the fresh lemon juice provides essential acidity, expertly cutting through the richness of the nuts and olive oil and enhancing the overall freshness of the greens. It acts as a masterful unifier, bringing all the disparate flavors into perfect harmony.
• Garlic: As a foundational flavor in virtually any great pesto, fresh garlic cloves provide a pungent, savory base that is both robust and aromatic. Finely grating the garlic directly into the food processor ensures that its intense flavor is evenly distributed throughout the pesto, preventing any overly strong pockets and creating a perfectly balanced taste.
• Olive Oil: The choice of olive oil significantly impacts the final taste and texture of your pesto. Opt for a good quality extra virgin olive oil, which will contribute fruity, sometimes peppery, notes and act as an essential emulsifying agent. It helps to create that wonderfully smooth, luxurious texture while also serving as a fantastic carrier for all the complex flavors.
• Sea Salt & White Pepper: These crucial seasonings are vital for enhancing, balancing, and refining all the other flavors in the pesto. Sea salt provides a clean, crisp salinity, while white pepper is often favored in lighter-colored sauces to avoid visible black flecks, thus maintaining the pesto’s beautiful, vibrant green appearance. Always taste your pesto before serving and feel free to adjust the amounts of salt, pepper, or lemon juice to achieve your perfect desired flavor balance.

Crafting Your Homemade Walnut Arugula Pesto: A Quick & Simple Guide

Creating this dairy-free walnut pesto is remarkably straightforward and can be accomplished in under 10 minutes, making it a perfect solution for busy schedules. The key to success lies in efficient ingredient preparation and allowing your food processor to do the heavy lifting. Follow these clear, step-by-step instructions to achieve a consistently perfect, flavorful batch every single time:

1. Toast Your Walnuts for Deeper, Richer Flavor

Begin by dry-toasting your walnuts. Place them in a dry, non-stick pan over medium-high heat. It’s important to continuously shake or stir the pan to ensure even toasting and prevent them from burning, as nuts can quickly go from perfectly toasted to burnt. As they heat, the natural oils within the walnuts will be released, and you’ll notice a distinct, wonderfully rich aroma beginning to fill your kitchen. This process typically takes about 2-3 minutes and is essential for significantly deepening their nutty flavor, which adds an indispensable layer of complexity to your finished pesto. Once they’re lightly golden and fragrant, immediately remove them from the heat and allow them to cool slightly before proceeding.

2. Combine All Ingredients in the Food Processor

Once your toasted walnuts have cooled, gather all the main ingredients: fresh arugula, spinach, the cooled toasted walnuts, hemp seeds, nutritional yeast, capers, olive oil, sea salt, and white pepper. Carefully place all these components into the bowl of your food processor. For optimal flavor and to streamline your clean-up process, use a microplane grater to directly zest the lemon and grate the garlic cloves over the processor bowl. This ensures that all the fragrant citrus oils and pungent garlic essence are captured right where they belong. Follow this by squeezing in the fresh juice from the zested lemon.

Initiate processing all the ingredients until they are thoroughly combined and begin to form a roughly textured paste. Periodically stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure that all ingredients are evenly incorporated. Next, gradually add up to ¼ cup of water, introducing it one tablespoon at a time. Continue processing and scraping down the sides after each addition until you achieve your desired creamy, vibrant green pesto consistency. Using water instead of additional olive oil helps to keep the pesto lighter and healthier without compromising its luxurious texture.

To conclude, conduct a final taste test of your freshly made pesto and adjust the seasoning as necessary. You might find that a little extra pinch of sea salt, a dash more white pepper, or another squeeze of fresh lemon juice is needed to achieve your absolute perfect flavor balance. For those who appreciate a subtle warmth and a gentle kick, a light sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes over the top can add a wonderful touch of heat, beautifully enhancing the pesto’s overall profile. Once seasoned to your liking, transfer the pesto to an airtight jar and refrigerate it until you’re ready to indulge.

Debra’s Expert Tips for Crafting Perfect Pesto Every Time

• Streamline Your Prep: To significantly save both valuable time and reduce the number of dishes you’ll need to wash, always opt to grate your garlic cloves and zest your lemon directly over the food processor bowl. This ensures that all the potent flavorful oils and vibrant zest are captured precisely where they belong, maximizing flavor and minimizing waste.
• Always Toast Your Nuts: Never skip the crucial step of dry-toasting your walnuts! This simple yet powerful action is essential for bringing out a deeper, richer, and far more complex nutty flavor that is absolutely vital to the pesto’s overall delicious profile. It also has the added benefit of making them slightly more digestible.
• Smart Nut Storage: For maximum versatility and to ensure the freshest flavor in your pesto, it’s always best to purchase your nuts raw. Store them in an airtight container within your freezer; this method will allow them to last significantly longer and remain wonderfully fresh for whenever you need them.
• Adjust Consistency with Water, Not Just Oil: When aiming for a thinner pesto, resist the urge to simply add more olive oil. Instead, use a tablespoon of water at a time. This clever trick keeps the pesto lighter and healthier, while also helping to achieve a beautifully smooth and perfectly emulsified texture without introducing excess fat.
• Preserve Vibrant Color: To prevent your freshly made pesto from oxidizing and losing its appealing bright green color during storage, employ a simple trick: pour a thin, protective layer of extra virgin olive oil over the surface of the pesto in its airtight container before sealing and refrigerating. This creates an effective barrier against air, which is the primary cause of discoloration.
• Taste and Adjust Liberally: Always, always taste your pesto before serving. Proper seasoning can truly elevate or diminish a dish. Feel completely free to add a pinch more salt, a dash of pepper, or an extra squeeze of lemon juice until you achieve your personal preferred balance of flavors. A small amount of crushed red pepper flakes can also impart a delightful warmth and gentle kick.
• Batch and Freeze for Convenience: Pesto is an excellent candidate for freezing! Prepare a larger batch than you immediately need and then spoon it into ice cube trays, freezing until solid. Once frozen, transfer these convenient pesto cubes to a freezer-safe bag or container. This method ensures you’ll always have fresh, homemade pesto readily available for quick weeknight meals, lasting beautifully in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Creative Ways to Enjoy Your Versatile Walnut Arugula Pesto

This incredibly versatile vegan walnut arugula pesto is far from being limited to just pasta; it possesses the power to elevate a wide array of dishes across your culinary repertoire! Its fresh, peppery, and savory notes make it an ideal condiment, a luxurious spread, or a vibrant sauce that can transform everyday meals into something special. Here are some fantastic and creative ways to seamlessly incorporate this delicious homemade pesto into your breakfast, lunch, and dinner rotations:

• Pesto Pasta Salad: The Ever-Popular Classic Reinvented! This combination is a beloved classic for very good reason, and our vegan pesto makes it even better:
  • Cook your preferred pasta shape according to the package directions until al dente. If you’re using gluten-free pasta, a helpful tip is to begin testing for doneness around the 6-minute mark, as it can easily become gummy if overcooked.
  • Before draining the pasta, remember to reserve approximately 1 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water. This liquid gold is crucial for achieving a perfectly emulsified and creamy sauce.
  • In a large, spacious serving bowl, place about 1 cup of your freshly made walnut arugula pesto. Gradually and steadily whisk in about ½ cup of the reserved pasta water until a wonderfully creamy, smooth, and cohesive sauce emerges. The pasta water helps the pesto to beautifully cling to the pasta strands and creates a luscious, glossy consistency.
  • Thoroughly drain the cooked pasta and immediately transfer it to the bowl with the creamy pesto sauce. Toss everything together gently yet completely until every single strand of pasta is evenly coated with the vibrant green pesto.
  • Elevate your pasta salad further by incorporating a medley of colorful and crunchy raw vegetables. Consider adding finely shredded carrots, thinly sliced cucumbers, brightly chopped bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange work wonderfully for visual appeal and flavor), or a handful of juicy cherry tomatoes, halved. For an extra boost of satisfying plant-based protein, enthusiastically mix in some cooked and shelled edamame beans or chickpeas.
• Sandwich & Wrap Spread: A Healthier Alternative! Ditch the heavy mayonnaise and generously slather this fresh, flavorful pesto onto your favorite sandwiches, wraps, or toasted paninis for an irresistible burst of fresh flavor. It pairs exceptionally well with roasted vegetables, grilled plant-based proteins like tempeh or tofu, and a medley of crisp fresh greens.
• Vibrant Veggie Dip: The Perfect Appetizer! Serve this pesto as a gorgeously vibrant and flavorful dip for a colorful platter of raw vegetables such as crunchy carrots, crisp celery sticks, assorted bell pepper strips, and refreshing cucumber slices. It’s a healthy, easy, and utterly irresistible appetizer for any gathering.
• Gourmet Pizza Base: A Delicious Twist! Use this pesto as a rich and aromatic base instead of traditional tomato sauce for a unique and sophisticated homemade pizza. Top it with your favorite fresh vegetables, a sprinkle of vegan cheese, and perhaps some sun-dried tomatoes for a truly delightful and memorable meal experience.
• Roasted Vegetable Enhancer: Post-Roast Perfection! Toss freshly roasted vegetables, such as tender potatoes, crisp broccoli florets, slender asparagus spears, or earthy zucchini slices, with a generous spoonful of this pesto immediately after they come out of the oven. The residual warmth helps all the incredible flavors to meld beautifully and coat the vegetables perfectly.
• Grain Bowl Booster: A Healthy Upgrade! Drizzle this luscious pesto generously over a warm and hearty grain bowl. Start with a base of quinoa, farro, or brown rice, then top with an assortment of your favorite roasted or fresh vegetables, creamy avocado slices, and a chosen protein source (like black beans or lentils) for a complete, satisfying, and incredibly flavorful meal.
• Soup Swirl: An Aromatic Finish! Add a delightful dollop or a elegant swirl of this pesto to the top of your vegetable soups, minestrone, or even a creamy tomato soup just before serving. It introduces an extra layer of freshness, herbaceousness, and a burst of vibrant flavor that elevates the entire bowl.

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📖 Recipe

Vegan Walnut Pesto with Arugula

Author:

Debra Klein

This vegan walnut pesto with arugula is incredibly rich in flavor, wonderfully creamy, and remarkably versatile. You can effortlessly make this simple recipe in under 10 minutes, making it an ideal choice for quick, healthy meals or whenever you’re seeking a delicious and dairy-free alternative to traditional basil or pine nut pestos.

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Prep Time

5 minutes
mins

Cook Time

3 minutes
mins

Total Time

8 minutes
mins

Course
Condiment

Cuisine
American

Servings
8

Calories

147
kcal

Equipment

• Food Processor
• Microplane

Ingredients

• 5 oz arugula approximately 4 cups
• 1 cup spinach tightly packed
• ½ cup walnuts dry toasted
• ¼ cup hemp seeds
• 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
• 2 tablespoon capers drained
• 1 lemon zested and juiced
• 3 cloves garlic finely grated
• 3 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon white pepper

Instructions

• Toast walnuts in a dry pan over medium heat. Shake the pan frequently to keep them from burning. It will take 2-3 minutes for their natural oils to release, the aroma to intensify, and the color to darken. This step is crucial for deepening the flavor of your pesto.
• In the bowl of a food processor or high-speed blender, combine the fresh arugula, spinach, cooled toasted walnuts, hemp seeds, nutritional yeast, capers, olive oil, sea salt, and white pepper.
• Using a microplane grater, zest the lemon and grate the garlic cloves directly over the ingredients in the processor bowl. Then, squeeze in the fresh lemon juice from the zested lemon. This maximizes flavor and minimizes clean-up.
• Process all ingredients until everything is well incorporated and forms a chunky paste. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Gradually add up to ¼ cup of water, 1 tablespoon at a time, continuing to process and scrape down sides after each addition, until your desired creamy consistency is achieved.
• Taste the pesto and adjust seasoning as necessary, adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to your preference. For a subtle hint of heat, sprinkle on some crushed red pepper flakes before serving.

Notes

Nutritional information provided is an estimate, based on one recipe yielding approximately 2 cups of pesto, with a suggested serving size of ¼ cup.

Storage: To maintain its freshness and vibrant flavor, store your homemade walnut arugula pesto in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. For extended storage, you can easily freeze it for up to 3 months. To prevent any discoloration (oxidation) during refrigeration, pour a thin, protective layer of olive oil over the surface of the pesto before sealing the container.

Variations: Don’t hesitate to experiment with other leafy greens such as kale, parsley, or even cilantro for a unique twist. You can also try different nuts like cashews or almonds for varying flavor profiles and textures.

Nutrition

Calories: 147kcal
Carbohydrates: 3g
Protein: 5g
Fat: 13g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g
Monounsaturated Fat: 5g
Sodium: 209mg
Potassium: 160mg
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 1g
Vitamin A: 809IU
Vitamin C: 5mg
Calcium: 50mg
Iron: 2mg

Note

The nutrition calculations provided here were performed using reliable online tools and should be considered as estimates. To ensure the most accurate representation of the nutritional information for any given recipe, it is always recommended that you calculate the nutritional data with the precise ingredients and quantities you personally used. Ultimately, you are responsible for verifying that any nutritional information is accurate, complete, and suitable for your specific dietary needs and goals.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Vegan Walnut Arugula Pesto