Pesto sauce recipes are another one of those infinitely flexible and adaptable sauces with many uses. It’s often a favorite thing to do with fresh garden herbs, and a great way to preserve herbs for the winter by canning the pesto.
Pesto sauce can be made using other greens as well, such as oregano, kale, basil, arugula, dandelion and ramps. In fact, ramps pesto is a favorite in many European countries where it’s call Bear’s garlic.
You can choose a full substitute or in part along with the parsley, such as half parsley and half other herb or greens.
You can also choose your nut or seed of preference. Pine nuts are the traditional and most common nut for pesto, but you if you love pesto and experimenting, you’ll want to branch out into trying other nuts as well, such as pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts or cashews.
There are vegan pesto options as well if you’re vegan or dairy free.
Substitutes for Basil in Pesto
Best Leafy Greens to Substitutes for Basil
- Arugula
- Cilantro
- Kale
- Parsley
- Spinach
Best Herbs to Substitute for Basil
- Chickweed – an edible and medicinal weed you can eat
- Lemon Balm
- Sage
- Tarragon
- Watercress
Vegan Substitutes for Cheese in Pesto Sauce Recipes
You can make vegan pesto sauce recipes using any of the many vegan substitutes for the cheese in most pestos. Vegan alternatives include and flavoring of the hard cheeses include:
- nutritional yeast
- capers
- sundried tomatoes in oil
- vegan cheeses –
- cashew parmesan “cheese”
- other plant based vegan cheese substitutes
- white miso
Try pesto on roasted vegetables.
Pesto Sauce Recipes
Pesto sauce recipes are another one of those infinitely flexible and adaptable sauces.
Parsley Pesto Recipe
If you love parsley, pesto and pumpkin seeds, you'll definitely enjoy this refreshing parsley pesto recipe. It's a refreshing take on the traditional basil pesto. Pumpkin seeds add an earthy tone and more protein and other nutrient benefits as well.
Cucumber Noodles with Fresh Pesto
Delicious, light, healthy, low cal summer pesto salad that doesn't require you to heat up the kitchen to cool your palate.
Chicken Thighs With Oregano Pesto
This is a great way to make use of garden fresh oregano for added flavor and the pungent goodness of oregano.
Mediterranean-Inspired Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Stuffed portobello mushrooms are a perfect canvas for the pesto palate.