Fresh, homemade pesto is much easier to whip together than you might think. Mix it into cooked pasta and add a handful of sliced cherry or grape tomatoes and you have a delicious, natural pasta salad that's perfect for picnics and summer days at the beach. Read on for this easy vegan pesto recipe.
I created this Picnic Pesto Pasta Salad recipe in part because of the abundance of fresh basil that should be available on your doorstep or in your garden right now. I say "should be" because of the sad condition of our herb planter, which sits outside our back door, above. Too much rain perhaps? Anyway I had to supplement my stock of basil with store-bought for this recipe, as I didn't want to cut down every little bit of our basil. Let's not even discuss the parsley!
This is an extremely simple-to-make pesto that also happens to be dairy-free and vegan. It requires few ingredients and it's very natural. There is no cheese in this pesto. Rather I used a couple of tablespoons of nutritional yeast. If you're not familiar with it, nutritional yeast is not like a traditional baking yeast - it's not a leavening agent. In the photo above, it's the yellow, powdery/flaky ingredient. It gives a nice cheesy flavour and a lot of vegetarians use it because certain brands are rich with Vitamin B12, which can be hard to get in a vegetarian diet without supplementation. You used to have to head to the health food store to buy nutritional yeast, but it's in many grocery stores now too (mainly in the natural foods aisle or section).
To make the pesto for the pasta salad, simply add basil, nutritional yeast, olive oil, walnuts, garlic, freshly squeezed lemon juice, salt and pepper to your food processor.
Process until the mixture is relatively smooth, with flakes of basil still remaining. The recipe makes about 1/3 cup of pesto, just enough for our pasta salad.
In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, sliced cherry or grape tomatoes and pesto. Stir until mixed.
You can eat this Picnic Pesto Pasta Salad slightly warm from the cooked pasta, at room temperature or even cold. To pack the pesto pasta salad in your picnic basket, dole it out into four individual glass dishes (like these small ramekins) and cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Be sure to pack the salad with ice if you're travelling far.
Add a baguette, a fruit salad and bottles of lemonade garnished with fresh mint. Now you've got yourself a quick and tasty picnic!
Once your picnic basket is packed with goodies, I hope you'll get many chances to head out and have fun this summer.
Picnic Pesto Pasta Salad (vegan)
by
Keywords: vegan vegetarian
Ingredients (serves 4 (as a side))
- 1 cup fresh basil, tightly packed, rinsed and dried (lay out on paper towels or a clean dish towel)
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped in quarters
- 1/4 cup plus 1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 3 cups cooked pasta (succhietti, rotini or fusilli work well), drained and cooled
- 1/2 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1/3 cup pesto
Instructions
For the pesto
Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until combined and somewhat smooth, but still with visible bits of basil. Makes about 1/3 cup of pesto, just enough for the pesto pasta salad.
For the pesto pasta salad
Add cooked pasta to a large bowl. Stir in cherry tomatoes and then the pesto. Serve immediately (whether warm from recently cooked pasta or at room temperature) or pack up for a picnic! Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Hi Joann,
ReplyDeleteWow! This pesto looks delicious! Love how you served it in those pretty bowls. Thanks so much for such a great recipe.
Thank you Gabriela! I got those dishes at the dollar store, so they were a great deal! Have a wonderful day! Joann
DeleteThis sounds absolutely amazing! I love all the flavours you included. And you are right - Canadian Tire does have pretty much everything you could ever want for a great road trip. #client
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Cyn! Canadian Tire is indeed great for road trip prep. I also have a new post up about the ways they helped us with back-to-school prep. So they are versatile. :)
DeleteThis recipe looks delicious. My basil grew quite big over the summer although it's starting to fade now. Time to harvest!
ReplyDeleteThat's funny you mention all your trips to Canadian Tire growing up- us too! I remember exactly where it is in our hometown. My parents would usually go there for gardening stuff :) . Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Same here - we need to use up the basil now! I hate to waste it.
DeleteMy dad often went to Canadian Tire alone. I think it was his place to get some peace. Haha. I love it now for the CANVAS line and many other things.
The pesto looks phenomenal. I have a ton of basil that came back for a second round...I should probably go out and pick it so that I can make this. I love that it has an absence of cheese and nooch is a great substitute...thanks for the awesome recipe Jo.
ReplyDeleteLeslie:
ReplyDeleteWe enjoy pesto and tomatoes on pasta, but usually have it hot. I never thought of a cold pasta salad this way. It is next on the list. Thank you for the great idea.
leslieannstevenson@yahoo.com
lol, I love how you incorporate pesto and motor oil into the same post :) I have been looking for a good pasta salad recipe - this one sounds delicious! I have never used nutritional yeast though... interesting!
ReplyDeleteWell i could certainly enjoy this delicious salad you have made the pesto looks creamy delish !
ReplyDeleteI make a variation of this, but with canned pesto. I really need to start growing some basil. The fresh stuff looks awesome.
ReplyDeleteThe salad looks delicious! I must pick the pesto before the nights get cold and make some pesto for the freezer.
ReplyDeleteI love pasta salads, and I love pesto. I didn't realize how easy it is to make. I also have so many cherry tomatoes right now, so this is a must try.
ReplyDeleteCanadian Tire was a place I associate with my Dad as well.
It's good that summer isn't officially over. Pasta salads are such a treat in warm weather. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI could eat pesto all day, however, I am the only one in my house! As for oil changes, I love that new cars tell you with the indication light.
ReplyDeletejan
I love the sounds of the pesto salad! I have an abundance of basil right from from my garden that I am unsure of what to do with it - unfortunately, we are already seeing fall approaching quickly here so I WILL need to harvest it all sooner than later! This would help to use some of it
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this recipe! It will be great for me to take to work! I also think that you could try subbing pinenuts or sunflower seeds instead of the walnuts to make it a nut-free recipe so it's safe to take to schools.
ReplyDeleteLove that you grow your own herbs, I will try the recipe, but will need to buy the basil. I talk about doing a herb garden every year, maybe next year.
ReplyDeleteYou can serve a potato salad as a side dish with many different dishes. You can serve it with ribs, burgers, chicken salad, grilled chicken, baked chicken, sandwiches and many other main dishes. salad recipes with fruit
ReplyDelete'Have fun' is my message. Be silly. You're allowed to be silly. There's nothing wrong with it.
ReplyDelete먹튀검증
I hope you can help me. I've been thinking about this for a long time, but I'm not getting it resolved.꽁머니
ReplyDeleteNew web site is looking good. Thanks for the great effort. vivocity food
ReplyDeleteGreat article with excellent idea!Thank you for such a valuable article. I really appreciate for this great information.. กลิ่นผสมอาหาร
ReplyDeleteNice blog, I will keep visiting this blog very often. กลิ่นผสมอาหาร
ReplyDeleteI found this is an informative and interesting post so i think so it is very useful and knowledgeable. I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. กลิ่นผสมอาหาร vip
ReplyDeleteWe have sell some products of different custom boxes.it is very useful and very low price please visits this site thanks and please share this post with your friends. westgate food singapore
ReplyDeleteWe have sell some products of different custom boxes.it is very useful and very low price please visits this site thanks and please share this post with your friends. Bedok mall best mall
ReplyDeleteThanks for the blog post buddy! Keep them coming... Paya lebar food
ReplyDeleteYou made such an interesting piece to read, giving every subject enlightenment for us to gain knowledge. Thanks for sharing the such information with us to read this... Read more
ReplyDeleteI wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post. vietnamese chicken
ReplyDeleteFor this web site, you will see our account, remember to go through this info. How to Use GoWise Air Fryer
ReplyDeleteYou ought to basically fantastic not to mention solid advice, which means notice: How to Use Instant Vortex Air Fryer
ReplyDeleteI read your blog frequently and I just thought I’d say keep up the amazing work! vietnamese food singapore
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. I like this topic.This site has lots of advantage.I found many interesting things from this site. It helps me in many ways.Thanks for posting this again. Tinley Park IL Real Estate Agents
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here keep up the good work vietnamese food near me
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading more. Great blog post. Really thank you! Want more.
ReplyDeletebest food at tampines mall
Your blog has chock-a-block of useful information. I liked your blog's content as well as its look. In my opinion, this is a perfect blog in all aspects. best waterway point food
ReplyDeleteGives you the best website address I know there alone you'll find how easy it is. Best Innsky Air Fryers
ReplyDeleteI really loved reading your blog. It was very well authored and easy to undertand. Unlike additional blogs I have read which are really not tht good. I also found your posts very interesting. In fact after reading, I had to go show it to my friend and he ejoyed it as well! best vietnamese food in singapore
ReplyDeleteHello, this weekend is good for me, since this time i am reading this enormous informative article here at my home. http://61eb8b485c0e7.site123.me/
ReplyDeleteIn this case you will begin it is important, it again produces a web site a strong significant internet site: How to Use GoWise Air Fryer
ReplyDeleteThis is one awesome blog post. Really thank you!
ReplyDeletejurong point food to eat
I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post. best vietnamese salad
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful! singapore best vivocity food
ReplyDeleteJust a super delicious opinion you stated step by step that might be able to keep reading after entering into this post. The pasta looks so so yummy and inviting. Food and recipe is our survival part of lives and we always love to enjoy this in different ways with a variety of taste and appetite. Also I do believe all the home made recipes can contains the best freshness than from the market. Thanks for sharing so handy recipe idea.
ReplyDeleteLaura
online ordering software for distributors
You make so many great points here that I read your article a couple of times. Your views are in accordance with my own for the most part. This is great content for your readers. singapore mbs food
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for the blog article. Really thank you! Want more.
ReplyDeletegreat world city food
This particular is usually apparently essential and moreover outstanding truth along with for sure fair-minded and moreover admittedly useful My business is looking to find in advance designed for this specific useful stuffs… singapore punggol food
ReplyDeleteMajor thanks for the blog. Much thanks again. Great.
ReplyDeletebest vietnamese salad
I just found this blog and have high hopes for it to continue. Keep up the great work, its hard to find good ones. I have added to my favorites. Thank You. Satta king game
ReplyDeleteTraditional advertising, such as Yellow Pages, Newspaper Ads, radio, TV, etc... are no longer effective. Customers wants to interact with businesses, not be broadcasted to. Social media marketing is the only marketing strategy that allows businesses to interact with their customers and take advantage of the word of mouth marketing potential that exists in today's web 2.0 platforms. This article will detail how to create and implement a social media marketing strategy that will generate a positive return on investment for your business. Advertising agency Greensboro NC
ReplyDeleteI love the way you write and share your niche! Very interesting and different! Keep it coming! vietnamese salad in Singapore
ReplyDeleteAwesome article, it was exceptionally helpful! I simply began in this and I'm becoming more acquainted with it better! Cheers, keep doing awesome! https://penzu.com/p/d6a954d1
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed this article post. Much thanks again. Great.
ReplyDeletebest jurong east food
The main focus of the American diet in recent years has become reducing fat and increasing carbohydrates in the diet. This stream of thought was intended to reduce the growing epidemic of obesity but over the past 20 years, obesity has risen into numbers that appear to be a crisis for Americans. can you freeze this
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful! https://vietnamesefooddeliverysingapore.wordpress.com/
ReplyDeleteIt proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commentators here! bugis food
ReplyDeleteThank you for your blog post. Much thanks again. Really Cool.food in orchard price
ReplyDeleteThanks for a wonderful share. Your article has proved your hard work and experience you have got in this field. Brilliant .i love it reading. chawal ki kheer banane ka tarika
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed this article post. Really looking forward to read more. Will read on...
ReplyDeleteSingapore suntec city food
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing blog that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. https://harryfharris.wixsite.com/thesingapurafood
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insight for your fantastic posting. I’m glad I have taken the time to see this. get bugis food in singapore
ReplyDeleteYou made such an interesting piece to read, giving every subject enlightenment for us to gain knowledge. Thanks for sharing the such information with us to read this... vietnamese food delivery
ReplyDelete