• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Easter Treats
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Ebooks
  • Subscribe

Through The Fibro Fog

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Easter Treats
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Ebooks
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Easter Treats
    • Recipes
    • About Me
    • Ebooks
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Sauces

    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

    Vegan Pistachio Pesto

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    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. Who else that on repeat?! 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

    ⭐ 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

    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 - with lots of reputed health benefits. A recent podcast 'The Olive Oil Episode' by The Doctor's Kitchen is worth a listen on this topic. I like to use Bertolli extra virgin olive oil.
    • 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.

    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 good old classic basil, 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 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 pesto chicken skewers 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.
      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
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Total Time 10 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!
    Tweet
    Share
    Pin
    Share

    More Easy & Healthy Sauces

    • carrot ketchup in a glass jar with a spoon it next to carrots and beets.
      Carrot Ketchup
    • mango compote in a glass jar with a spoon in it on a white plate.
      Easy Mango Compote
    • honey ginger salad dressing in a glass jar with a spoon in it next to garlic cloves.
      Honey Ginger Salad Dressing
    • mango coulis in a glass bowl with a spoon in it with a bowl of mango cubes in the background.
      Easy Mango Coulis

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    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.

    More about me →

    Easter Treats

    • cardamom apple fritters on a wooden board.
      Cardamom Apple Fritters
    • honey spelt cookies on a wire rack.
      Honey Spelt Cookies
    • maple syrup flapjacks on parchment paper on a wire rack.
      Maple Syrup Flapjacks
    • cardamom oatmeal cookies
      Cardamom Oatmeal Cookies
    • blackberry oatmeal cookies next to a bowl of blackberries.
      Blackberry Oatmeal Cookies
    • oatmeal bliss balls on a wooden board.
      Oatmeal Bliss Balls

    Featured On

    company names including Parade, Feed Feed, yahoo, finding vegan and food gawker.

    Popular Recipes

    • creamy paprika chicken in a light grey skillet.
      Creamy Paprika Chicken
    • beetroot butternut squash salad in a cream bowl.
      Butternut and Beetroot Salad
    • pesto ricotta pasta in a light grey bowl on a beige cloth with a for on it next to a glass jar of pesto.
      Ricotta Pesto Pasta
    • cooked frozen cauliflower rice garnished with parsley in a cream bowl on a blue cloth.
      How to Cook Frozen Cauliflower Rice

    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 advice in any way.

    veda ambassador logo.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact Me

    Copyright © 2023 Through The Fibro Fog