Homemade Pesto Sauce: Nut Free
What do YOU do when given an abundance of basil?? Using it for a caprese salad is a great idea but you can only eat so much before it goes bad. Making pesto is the best way to go and you can simply double this recipe if you want to make more than a cup.
Typical pesto sauce has pine nuts in it and although I love them, my youngest has a nut allergy. Leaving them out still makes a delicious pesto sauce, but certainly use them if you can since they add such a nice flavor.
This recipe takes no time at all. Everything is thrown in a food processor and pulsed to combine. Pour it in a mason jar in the fridge and you’ve got a fantastic spread to add to sandwiches, vegetables, pasta or even marinade some chicken with it.
So it may not be the lowest in calorie or fat, but it is all natural, homemade, no artificial ingredients or preservatives and it’s made with heart healthy olive oil. Works for me 🙂
Homemade Pesto Sauce: Nut Free
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cup basil leaves loosely packed
- 4 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Optional: if no nut allergies, 4 tablespoons pine nuts
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse basil, garlic, salt, pepper (add pine nuts if using) until chopped.
- Add in half the olive oil and cheese and pulse to blend, add in the rest and continue to pulse until combined.
- Makes 1 cup.
- Keep refrigerated.
Notes
Nutrition
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach, and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & refined-carb free for 20 years and is the author of four cookbooks: Sugar-Free Mom, Naturally Keto, The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, and her newest release, Good, Better, Best (2025). Her work focuses on helping women detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar, and lose weight while enjoying delicious, nutrient-dense whole foods. Brenda is also the creator of the Midlife Macro™ Method and the weekly Midlife Macro Meal Plans™, designed specifically for women in perimenopause and menopause who want simple, high-protein, low-carb meals to support hormones, metabolism, and long-term health.She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and the Sugar Free Mom Tribe membership.
No problem as far as I am concerned if its not calorie free. I believe in being bit indulgent occasionally. And this seriously looks awesome!