Heart-Healthy Red Pesto
Elevate your meals with this vibrant and flavorful Heart-Healthy Red Pesto recipe, a nutritious twist on the classic that’s as versatile as it is delicious. Packed with sun-dried tomatoes (not in oil), nutrient-dense walnuts, fresh basil leaves, and a hint of garlic, this dairy-free pesto boasts rich, savory notes while remaining light and wholesome. The addition of nutritional yeast lends a subtle cheesy flavor, while zesty lemon juice and red pepper flakes add brightness and spice. Prepared in just 15 minutes without cooking, this easy pesto is a perfect gluten-free and plant-based option for dipping, spreading, or tossing with whole-grain pasta. Make it ahead and store it in the refrigerator for a week of heart-friendly meals full of bold flavor!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 120 grams Sun-dried tomatoes (not in oil)
- 60 grams Walnuts
- 30 grams Fresh basil leaves
- 2 units Garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Nutritional yeast
- 0.5 teaspoons Red pepper flakes
- 0.25 teaspoons Black pepper
Instructions
Place the sun-dried tomatoes in a small bowl and cover them with hot water. Let them soak for about 10 minutes to soften.
Drain the sun-dried tomatoes and pat dry with a paper towel.
In a food processor, combine the softened sun-dried tomatoes, walnuts, fresh basil leaves, and garlic cloves. Pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped.
Add the lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, nutritional yeast, red pepper flakes, and black pepper to the food processor.
Blend the ingredients together until you achieve a smooth and creamy consistency. If the mixture is too thick, add a tablespoon of water at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
Taste the pesto and adjust seasoning if necessary, adding a pinch more black pepper or a squeeze more lemon juice as desired.
Transfer the red pesto to a sealed container and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. Serve it as a spread, dip, or toss with your favorite whole grain pasta for a heart-healthy meal.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1255 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 99.2 g | 127% | |
| Saturated Fat | 12.2 g | 61% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 28.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 141 mg | 6% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 84.5 g | 31% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 22.8 g | 81% | |
| Total Sugars | 47.6 g | ||
| Protein | 34.0 g | 68% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 255 mg | 20% | |
| Iron | 15.0 mg | 83% | |
| Potassium | 4782 mg | 102% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
