ramyaramesh3007I’m not kidding when I say – this is one of the easiest and creamiest pesto pasta recipe! You can make this gluten free and oil free without compromising on bursting flavour.
With a million pesto recipes out there, I’m not going to convince you mine is the best. However, it’s my favourite version of pesto and it can be made gluten free and gut-friendly. In a way, it’s an allergen-free recipe that does NOT compromise on taste.
Made with traditional, simple ingredients like basil, lemon juice, and pine nuts, this vegan version includes avocado and nutritional yeast for that extra oomph. This recipe also uses garlic powder but if you are tolerant, you can substitute it with 1 to 2 fresh cloves of garlic.
The pesto can be considered raw if you don’t toast the pine nuts. I like toasting them for a stronger flavour profile but this is completely up to.
I use a wheat-based pasta for this recipe but a gluten free version tastes almost exactly the same. For gluten free pasta options, I love anything that is made with brown rice due to the similarity in texture and taste. You can opt for your favourite gluten free pasta in this recipe.
I also heard that some nutritional yeast brands contain gluten. The one I use by Bob’s Red Mill doesn’t, but do be extra careful if you are gluten intolerant.
If you are not a fan of avocado, you can check out my 15-min Zucchini Pesto Pasta.
15-min Vegan Avocado Pesto
Equipment
- 1 Blender
- 1 Large Pot
Ingredients
- 150 g dry pasta
- 1/2 large avocado
- 35 g basil leaves (1 cup)
- 2 tbsp pine nuts
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- salt
- olive oil*
Toppings
- Vegan Parmesan
- Pine Nuts
Instructions
- Boil pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Rinse with cold water to prevent it from sticking together.
- Lightly toast pine nuts for 1-2 minutes on a low flame.
- Add all ingredients to a blender – avocado, basil, pine nuts, nutritional yeast, olive oil and all the condiments.
- Pulse 5-8 times until you get the desired consistency – blending causes a more creamier consistency compared to pulsing.
- Combine with pasta and top with toasted pine nuts.
Notes
- Omit olive oil if you want to make this recipe oil free.
- For gluten free pasta options, I love anything that is made with brown rice due to the similarity in texture and taste. You can opt for your favourite gluten free pasta in this recipe.