Vegan Avocado Pesto (oil-free, nut-free)

OMG. VEGAN AVOCADO PESTO.

I love pesto, it is seriously one of my favorite sauces to add to my pasta dishes. This new vegan avocado recipe is going to be your new go-t0 dinner option.

Most traditional pesto recipes are filled with oil and cheese and are extremely high in fat.

Good news! This vegan avocado pesto is totally nut-free and is plant-based.

This recipe is: 

✔️Vegan

✔️Gluten-free

✔️Nut-free

✔️Oil-free

✔️WFPB

✔️100% yummy

Greens + Herbs

A great and healthy way to add flavor to your cooking is adding fresh herbs. One of my all-time favorite herbs is basil! It is so fresh and adds a little extra love to a meal. In my opinion, the best way to utilize basil is to make it into a fresh pesto..YUM!

This vegan avocado pesto is much healthier than a traditional pesto because it is free of oil and cheese, win-win! I also added spinach to my pesto for extra greens.

Basil Benefits: 

  • reduces inflammation
  • fights cancer
  • natural anti-bacterial properties
  • high in antioxidants
  • clears skin
  • aids in digestion
  • manages diabetes
  • supports liver function
  • detoxes body
  • helps with an upset stomach
  • fights depression + anxiety

Healthier Pasta

I used lentil pasta by the brand Cybele’s for this recipe. I love lentil pasta because it is a higher protein, higher fiber, lower glycemic alternative to traditional white pasta.

What is your favorite brand of pasta?! Tell me in the comments.

Vegan Avocado Pesto

 Oil-Free

like using lemon in this dish instead of oil. Lemon is filled with vitamin C and provides an extra boost of health to this dish! I prefer to cook without oil to keep refined fats and calories a bit lower.

I add fresh lemon juice to this vegan pesto pasta and it brings a brightness and zing to the dish!

A little note about me, I don’t measure anything when I cook so feel free to tweak any of my recipes. If you like things garlicky add more garlic, if you like spicy, add some spice!

Vegan Avocado Pesto

Need to impress non-vegan family and friends?

I have the solution for you! You HAVE to make this vegan avocado pesto for them. I promise they will love it. You don’t have to be an amazing chef to make this – it is so simple and takes about 15 minutes to put together.

Vegan Avocado Pesto

Share the love!

Pin this on Pinterest to share with the community and so you can save it for later.

If you make this recipe I want to see your creations! Post a picture of your vegan avocado pesto pasta and tag me, Danielle, on Instagram or Facebook @healthygirlkitchen. I can’t wait to see what you whip up in the kitchen.

Vegan Avocado Pesto (oil-free, nut-free)

Vegan Avocado Pesto

Mushrooms in Vegan Avocado Pesto

I added sauteéd mushrooms to this dish but this is totally optional. The flavor combination of the basil in the pesto mixed with the mushrooms turned out perfectly. Mushrooms are filled with health benefits too so I highly recommend adding them to the recipe.

Did you know that mushrooms reduce the risk of breast cancer by 64%? 

Vegan Avocado Pesto

What are you waiting for? Get cooking!

Vegan Avocado Pesto (oil-free, gluten-free)

Creamy vegan avocado pesto is bright, flavorful, packed with greens and is WFPB friendly, gluten-free, oil-free, nut-free and only takes 15 minutes to make. 
prep time 5 minutes
cook time 10 minutes
total time 15 minutes

the ingredients

  • 2 cups spinach
  • 2 cups fresh basil
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1 small lemon juiced
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • salt to taste
  • 3 tbsp vegan parmesan optional (can sub nutritional yeast)
  • 12 oz uncooked pasta I used lentil pasta

instructions

  • Boil water and cook the pasta. 
  • Add spinach, basil, avocado, lemon juice, garlic cloves, salt and vegan parmesan into the food processor.  Blend until completely combined, scraping down the sides as necessary. 
  • When the pasta is done, strain and rinse if it's gluten-free. Stir the pesto into the pasta and enjoy! 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much I do!

In good health,

Danielle

Danielle Brown

Hi! I’m Danielle Brown, the face behind HealthyGirl Kitchen! I share easy, approachable plant-based recipes that are not only healthy but taste amazing. Follow me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for free vegan meal ideas, recipes and healthygirl tips.

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  1. Marge says:

    Best pesto I have ever had.5 stars

  2. Amit says:

    made this yesterday for my whole family and it was a hit! we had it with red lentil pasta and it was ALL GONE which doesn’t happen often with this picky crew. we love pesto and this healthy take on one of our faves worked out great! next time i’ll make twice as much.

  3. Jacqueline Kraft says:

    I love pesto and this recipe did not dissapoint! My only regret was not making more5 stars

  4. Nina W. says:

    Have you ever frozen this, do you think that would work well?

    1. Danielle Keith says:

      Yes you can freeze the pesto sauce!

  5. Mary Tagliarino says:

    DeLallo Angel Hair. Their other shapes are more crumbly.5 stars