White bowl of green pesto surrounded by a piece of toast and a few crackers.
Salsas, Sauces, Spreads & Seasonings

Garlicky and Bursting with Flavor

Almost all pesto recipes use nuts, which do not work for my husband. So, I decided to create my own recipe using sunflower seeds. The result? Absolutely dreamy. This sunflower seed pesto is creamy, garlicky, savory, and bursting with flavor. It blends up in minutes and is the perfect addition to your favorite pasta or bread.

Nut-Free Sunflower Seed Pesto

Recipe courtesy of
  • Ariel Hinkle

Prep Instructions

  • Yield: 24 (2 tablespoon) servings
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 12 minutes

Recipe Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
  • 3 large garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cups fresh basil, packed into cup

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients (except basil) into food processor or blender.
  2. Process until smooth and creamy.
  3. Add basil, and process until smooth.
  4. Enjoy immediately! Store in the fridge about 3 days or freeze for 3–4 months.

NOTE: This pesto oxidizes quickly because of the fresh basil. It is best fresh!

Category Tags

Cholesterol-free
Gluten-free
Low carbohydrate / low sugar
Low sodium
Peanut-free
Spreads and Sauces
Tree nut-free
Vegan
Vegetarian
Whole food, plant-based

Nutritional Data

Calories: 57.44
Fat: 5.68 g
Saturated Fat: 0.81 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 40.49 mg
Carbohydrates: 1.08 g
Fiber: 0.43 g
Sugars: 0.08 g
Protein: 1.14 g
© AdventHealth