Paleo pesto is so easy to make, delicious and great on chicken, in chicken salad, on grilled fish, with zoodles, as a spread for crackers. The list goes on and on.
This Paleo pesto with walnuts recipe is garlic free (low fodmap), Whole30, grain-free, gluten-free and dairy-free!
What Can You Use Instead Of Pinenuts in Pesto?
In this recipe, I use walnuts instead of pine nuts and the recipe is delicious!
Paleo Pesto:
In addition to my current grain free, gluten free and dairy free lifestyle, I am also following a mostly low fodmaps diet. So, garlic is out. Even with these restrictions, I have found plenty of delicious, amazing, fresh foods and recipes. It may be surprising, but with a few changes or substitutions, many recipes can be adjusted and still be completely tasty and satisfying. In other words, I am not missing anything!
I find the summer season is the best time to find fresh basil to make my pesto. I really don't bother making it during any other season. If I am lucky, what I make and freeze lasts through the winter.
Add some spinach to make this a Paleo spinach pesto!
In the photo below, I show the basil plant I plucked and stripped bare to make this recipe. It yielded exactly four cups of basil leaves. Once you cut the basil leaves off the plant, they do not grow back. It is a one-shot deal. The resulting Garlic Free Basil Pesto was so fresh tasting. I used raw walnuts (versus the traditional pine nuts) in this recipe as well.
Related: Dairy-Free Pesto
Can You Have Pesto On Whole30?
Yes, as long as the ingredients are Whole30 compliant, which this pesto recipe is.
Paleo Pesto:
I will admit I could eat this Garlic Free Basil Pesto straight as it is, but it makes a great sauce for meat (try grilled chicken), zoodles (spiralized zucchini noodles), salads, potatoes, spaghetti squash and more. How about slathering some on eggs? That sounds awesome!
Once you have made your pesto, simply store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. If you won't be using all right away, freeze in ice cube tray for the future. Then all you have to do is take out individually frozen pesto cubes, defrost in the fridge and use in your recipe or as a sauce. You will be amazed at how fresh it tastes.
Paleo Pesto Would Be Fantastic With:
What are your favorite uses for pesto?
★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
Paleo Pesto! Garlic Free Pesto (Low Fodmap). Summer is all about enjoying fresh herbs that are available. In this recipe, use fresh basil and with the combinations of flavors, I bet you don't miss the garlic. Paleo, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Dairy-Free.
- 4 cups fresh basil leaves
- 3/4 cup raw walnuts
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (Juice of one large lemon)
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper (salt and pepper to taste)
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Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend for several minutes until your basil pesto becomes creamy.
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Store in refrigerator for up to a week. Or consider freezing by filling ice cube trays.
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Great as a sauce for meat, zoodles, salad, spaghetti squash, potatoes and more.
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Enjoy!
Easy to Pin It Strip:
Nicole says
You can harvest from your basil plant and let it keep growing. You just have to pinch the leaves off. There are lots of YouTube videos that show to do this 🙂
Christine Galvani says
Thanks, Nicole, I'm going to try this!
Lara says
Dying to try this tonight!!! I’m extremely allergic to all forms of garlic and have been “poisoned” several times just from slight cross contamination. Been missing out on things like pesto my entire adult life. You just hacked my restrictions!!!!
Christine says
Hi Lara! So glad you'll be trying this. 🙂
Christine says
Hi Lara! Yes, I completely understand. You'll love this pesto!
bjg says
This is a tasty recipe and the garlic-based ones can suffocate anyone within breathing distance...so I think this is a winner.
Christine says
Yes, it is great and delicious on so many things!