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Home » Recipes » Sauces

Vegan Pistachio Pesto

Published: May 26, 2021 · Modified: Aug 20, 2022 by Claire · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases · Leave a Comment

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This vegan pistachio pesto is a variation of a traditional pesto recipe, using pistachios, coriander, garlic and olive oil. Leaving out the cheese means that it is a vegan pesto as well as being gluten-free and a low histamine recipe. Ready in just 10 minutes!

wooden board with a white bowl of vegan pistachio pesto on it surrounded by crudites and herbs.

Pesto is always a quick and easy sauce to put together, and perfect for a busy weeknight dinner of pesto pasta. If you're a pesto fan too then you may like to see my other vegan pesto recipes, including my macadamia nut pesto, my mint basil pesto and dairy-free pumpkin seed pesto. Both tasty and easy to make!

And for a little bit of a different flavour, my Thai basil pesto has a lovely aniseed, and slightly spicy flavour!

This vegan pistachio pesto has a delicious nutty taste, and is so easy to make. It really is a quick pesto with very little 'hands on' time and just a quick whizz in the blender.

Jump to:
  • ⭐ Why this pesto is so good
  • 🌿 Ingredients
  • 📖 Recipe variations
  • 🔪 Step by step instructions
  • 💭 Recipe tips and notes
  • 📋 Frequently asked questions
  • 🍽 How to serve pistachio pesto
  • 🥣 More tasty pesto recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

⭐ Why this pesto is so good

  • Full of flavour: the pistachios, basil and garlic have the best taste.
  • Easy to make: a very quick recipe that is ready in just ten minutes.
  • Vegan and gluten free pesto. Suitable for both dietary requirements!
  • Versatile: pesto can be used for good old pesto pasta as an easy weeknight dinner, but also as a dip or spread. It's great on some of my seed crackers with some fresh mozzarella. Or use it to make my tasty orzo pesto salad!

🌿 Ingredients

labelled coriander, pistachios, olive oil and garlic.

This vegan pistachio pesto is a 'few ingredient' recipe, with a some twists on the typical ingredients of basil, pine nuts and pecorino cheese. I've kept it dairy-free, as well as low histamine.

  • Coriander / cilantro - a change from basil, I know it's a love it or hate it herb! If you're on the latter side of the fence then simply swap out for basil.
  • Pistachio nuts - used in place of pine nuts, these have a lovely flavour. Be sure to use ones that aren't roasted or salted or the flavour will be a bit overpowering.
  • Extra virgin olive oil - I do suggest to use this rather than olive oil, as it has a richer flavour.
  • Garlic - for lots of flavour. You can leave it out, if not tolerated.

📖 Recipe variations

Pesto is made of a form of nut (or seed), a herb and olive oil as the basic ingredients. While basil and pine nuts are the traditional ingredients, there are so many variations to play around with, such as in my basil pesto recipe without pine nuts.

If pistachio nuts aren't your thing then you can always try pumpkin seeds or macadamia nuts. My macadamia nut pesto is so good!

A swap for the coriander is classic basil leaves, or you could try different mixes of herbs such as parsley, thyme and mint.

🔪 Step by step instructions

Making this vegan pistachio pesto is very simple, with just a few steps:

blender cup with pistachios, coriander and garlic in it.

Making pesto is one of the easiest recipes, and it is always nice to use fresh and homemade rather than store-bought.

There really is only one step, which is to add everything to a blender (I use a Nutri-Bullet as in the pic above), and blend. The texture is up to you. Personally I think a little bit 'rustic' and chunky works best with this pistachio pesto.

Have a taste of the pesto and adjust to preference, with more oil, vinegar, garlic of herbs.

💭 Recipe tips and notes

  • Be sure to use unsalted pistachios - it definitely won't taste good with salted!
  • Adjust the taste and consistency to preference with more olive oil, garlic or pistachios.
  • Not a fan of coriander? Simply swap for more traditional basil.

📋 Frequently asked questions

Which type of pistachios should I use to make pesto?

For this recipe you want to use plain unsalted pistachios that have not already been roasted or flavored in any way.

Is this vegan pistachio pesto gluten free?

Yes, it's a gluten free pesto. Make sure to use gluten free pasta if making pistachio pesto pasta!

Can I make the pesto in a pestle and mortar rather than a blender?

Yes, you can use a pestle and mortar if you prefer!

🍽 How to serve pistachio pesto

Pesto is very versatile and this vegan pistachio pesto can be used in the following ways:

  • for classic pesto pasta - the easy weeknight dinner! For a little variation on the traditional recipe, this pesto would be lovely in my creamy ricotta pesto pasta!
  • as a spread for sandwiches or on crackers with cheese.
  • thin it out a little with a touch more olive oil and it is good as a dressing for salads.
  • as a dip with sliced up vegetables.
  • either use as a topping or a stuffing for fish, vegetable or meat dishes. You may like to see my pesto chicken risotto and my air fryer pesto chicken thighs for a tasty evening meal idea!
side view of pistachio pesto on a wooden board in a cream bowl.

🥣 More tasty pesto recipes

If you're a fan of pesto, then you will find so many tasty recipes here, including my veggie pesto pasta and my pesto Brussels sprouts. Some more to enjoy:

  • Thai basil pesto in a glass jar with a bottle of olive oil and garlic cloves in the background.
    Thai Basil Pesto (Nut Free)
  • jar of macadamia nut pesto with a spoon in it next to garlic, basil leaves and a bottle of olive oil.
    Macadamia Pesto
  • baked cod with pesto on tabbouleh on a cream plate with a fork on it.
    Baked Cod with Pesto
  • pesto chicken tray bake on a white and blue striped cloth.
    Pesto Chicken Tray Bake

I’m always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes. And please do leave a star rating ⭐ if you tried the recipe!

📖 Recipe

overhead view of pistachio pesto on a wooden board.

Vegan Pistachio Pesto

Claire
This vegan pistachio pesto with coriander is a nice twist on the more classic recipe. By leaving out the cheese, it is a vegan pesto as well as being gluten-free and a low histamine recipe. Perfect for pesto pasta, or as a dip or spread.
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Sauces
Cuisine American, British, Italian
Servings 6 servings
Calories 196 kcal

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup pistachio nuts shelled
  • ½ cup coriander
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small garlic clove
  • pinch salt

Instructions
 

  • Add all the ingredients to your blender, and blend to a chunky texture. Add more oil if the pesto feels too dry and not 'sauce like' to preference.

Notes

  • Be sure to use unsalted pistachios, and those that have not been roasted or flavored in any way.
  • Adjust the taste and consistency to preference with more olive oil, garlic or pistachios.
  • Not a fan of coriander? Simply swap for basil..
  • Please note that nutritional information is offered as a courtesy. It is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate.
 
Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance (SIGHI) food compatibility list for histamine
All ingredients score 0 on the SIGHI list, with the exception of:
  • garlic, which scores 1.
  • coriander scores 0, but with a ? as a liberator and a note stating 'only small amounts are well tolerated'.

Nutrition

Calories: 196kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 4gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 219mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 175IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @lowhistaminekitchen or tag #lowhistaminekitchen!
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Hi, I’m Claire. After a diagnosis of MCAS I began to follow a low histamine diet, which has helped me manage my symptoms. Here I hope to show that a restrictive diet can still be full of flavourful meals, and help you enjoy being creative in the kitchen.

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As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Please see my disclaimer. I am not a doctor or healthcare professional. All posts are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical or dietetic advice in any way.

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