Table of Contents
Last updated on January 17th, 2023 at 12:49 am
What is Vegan Artichoke Pesto Made Of?
I’m about to help you batch prep up the perfect little addition to… well basically any entree that gets you excited! For this Artichoke pesto you will need nothing more than:
- Pine Nuts
- Olive Oil
- 1 15-0z can of artichoke hearts
- Spinach
- Garlic
- Basil
- Lemon Juice
- Nutritional Yeast
That’s it! Just a few simple ingredients and you’ve got yourself a versatile sauce that can go on for days and then some!
The lemon juice and artichoke also give it a little bit of that “zesty” flavor we may experience with cheese making it a perfect blend. Let me show you how this is done painlessly!
Is It Cheaper To Make Your Own Pesto?
Us musicians have an ongoing joke. As long as we’re sporting a guitar, “You’ll never have to go hungry, but you’ll have to work for your dinner.”
I like to keep life simple- I don’t spend too much time or money on what I create in the kitchen. If you also know a musician- you know we’re always looking to feed ourselves in the most economically feasible way so that we can waste even more money on gear and records!
Here’s a few reason why this pesto is a cheap and nutritious major win!
- It has less 10 ingredients.
- You’re not paying someone else to literally blend it and up charge you for a jar you’re going to toss anyways!
- Canned artichokes, garlic, and pine nuts are all relatively shelf stable. So they are ready to go for pesto whenever you are. They aren’t found perishing quickly in the fridge (but an open store bought jar of pesto will! thus we save some cash by making our own!)
- You can make a MUCH greater quantity of pesto (I’m talking about 5x) for the price you would find a jar of pesto in the store.
- The quality of a from scratch pesto is going to be much better than a store bought pesto (its fresh!).
What Nuts Can I Use For Vegan Pesto?
Pine nuts are the nut of choice for a classic pesto. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative (or lets face it- cheap).
Other great nuts for artichoke pesto include:
- Pistachios
- Sunflower Seeds
- Walnuts
- Cashews
- Almonds
.
How Can I Make Vegan Pesto Creamy
The trick to making vegan pesto creamy is pine nuts!
Spoiler alert tho- these are actually not nuts at all! They are the seeds of pine trees!
I Love pine nuts because they are an excellent source of polyunsaturated fats such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These are sometimes challenging to find in plants, and are an excellent way to boost your immune system and fuel your brain!
What Herb Is Used in Pesto
The most common her used is basil. Here are a variety of herbs other than basil that can be used in artichoke pesto sauce:
- Spinach (i’ve also added spinach to this dish)
- Arugula
- Kale
- Seaweed
- Sage
- Cilantro
If you are finding your pesto to be a little too bitter- use a little less pesto. Trade out some of the pesto with the other goodies listed above.
The best way to harvest your basil is to grow a beautiful flourishing plant in a pot or your own backyard.
Unfortunately, I happen to be a certifiable plant killer. Thus back to the drawing board (and grocery), it is for me!Any tips for not murdering basil? Drop them in a line below! But for now, let’s get back to the facts!
Tossing basil on just about anything will power up the flavor and the antioxidants!
A favorite treat of mine from pizzas to pestos.
Other Ways to Use Artichoke Pesto Sauce
This artichoke pesto sauce is definitely one of my new favorite kitchen friends! I’m seeing all the versatility emerge as I pull the mix together.
Other great ways I envision using artichoke pesto sauce:
- In a hot pasta (which of course I might toss in some sriracha because I love some spice!
- In an omelet
- Lasagna
- As a pizza sauce
- On a Bagel
- Top on Grilled eggplant
- On your favorite vegan sammie
- On a quesadilla
- Vegan Street Tacos
The sky is really the limit when it comes to using this savory sauce. Don’t limit yourself to one dish!
This pasta also keeps awesome in the fridge for several days!
How Long Does Artichoke Pesto Keep
This pesto sauce can be refrigerated for 7 days. It can also be frozen.
Freezing artichoke pesto:
- Can be frozen for up to six months
- Try using ice cube trays to freeze artichoke pesto sauce
- Transfer frozen artichoke pesto sauce to a freezer bag
Other Easy Vegan Eats
Some other great vegan eats to try include:
basil, spinach, kale, cilantro, sage
Add pine nuts or cashews
One week in the fridge or up to 6 months in the freezer
Freeze it in ice cube trays. Transfer to a freezer bag and pull it out for easy use.
Artichoke Pesto Sauce
Equipment
- High powered blender of food processor
Ingredients
- 1 cups basil
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 cup pine nuts
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 can artichokes rinsed and drained
- 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in high powered blender. Blend for 2 minutes.
Video
Notes
- Switch Witch: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly - October 18, 2024
- Giving Yourself Unconditional Permission to Eat - October 17, 2024
- Help, I Feel Like I Don’t Deserve To Eat - September 7, 2024