3-Ingredient Pesto Yogurt Dip - Easy, Healthy Appetizer Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for Parmesan cheese in pesto? ›

As a vegan ingredient darling and the prototypical cheese flavor alternative, nutritional yeast is a classic Parmesan substitute when making a dairy-free pesto. In many recipes, you'll find it used as a one-for-one swap for the grated cheese, with everything else in the formula staying the same.

Cashews. Cashews resemble pine nuts in color, texture and mild sweetness, and can be used as a substitute in just about any recipe. Stick to unsalted versions (roasted or raw varieties both work), and toast them to provide extra depth of flavor.

Try replacing half the basil with arugula, kale, radish greens, parsley, or spinach. You could also skip the basil entirely and use a mix of parsley and cilantro or a 50/50 blend of fresh mint and spinach. Swap the nuts. Almost any nut or seed works well in this vegan pesto recipe!

Most pesto recipes call for Parmesan cheese; we often use Romano which has a stronger flavor. Basil pesto recipes often call for pine nuts, but you can easily substitute walnuts.

Servings. Tired of the same old pesto? We were – so we swapped out traditional pine nuts and parmesan to create this unique lactose free cheddar cheese and walnut pesto. Check out the list of 10 easy ways to use this pesto at the end of the recipe!

As long as it forms part of a diverse diet with plenty of vegetables, fibre, and moderate levels of protein and dairy, there's absolutely no need to worry about pesto being bad for you. It's packed full of nutrients and healthy fats, which are needed in a well-balanced diet.

More nuts: Pesto is traditionally made with pine nuts, or you could substitute an equal amount of almonds, pecans, cashews, or even hazelnuts. Spicy: Add ¼ teaspoon or more crushed red pepper flakes to the food processor before blending.

Substitutes for Basil:

Basil substitutes can include its mint cousins: Greek oregano, mint, and thyme. Tarragon and savory are also suitable alternatives to basil. Because basil is included in Italian seasoning, that is also a good alternative for basil when called for in an Italian-style recipe.

The primary ingredients in pesto — basil and olive oil — are sensitive to heat. Basil can lose its vibrant color and fresh flavor when exposed to high temperatures, turning it a darker, more muted green. Olive oil can also lose some of its health benefits and can develop a bitter taste when heated excessively.

Some companies use the much cheaper cashew nuts, while others leave out nuts altogether. The official basil pesto recipe dictates that only expensive sea salt from Trapani should be used.

How do you make pesto taste better? ›

Add a pinch of salt if the basil tastes too bitter or the pesto needs more zing. Add more Parmesan if you'd like a creamier/cheesier pesto. If desired, you can thin out the pesto with more olive oil.

Pesto can be used as a pasta sauce, sandwich spread, pizza sauce, an accompaniment to meat, fish, chicken and vegetables, in salads, as a dip and much more. Find plenty of recipes that use pesto here.

Italian Tradition

Pesto is the perfect sauce to enjoy with a dish of trofie (the traditional Ligurian short pasta), lasagna, potato gnocchi or as a topping for a bowl of minestrone. It can be mixed into tomato sauce to enhance the flavor of pasta dishes or used with fish fillets to make them more appetizing.

Can I use mozzarella instead of parmesan in fettuccine? Yes! This is what this mozzarella alfredo sauce recipe helps you do. While it does change the flavor and bit of the texture, it's still got the same elements of the creamy comfort food you love.

Substitute a slightly sweet, nutty Gruyère cheese for Parmesan—it's perfect with with almonds. You still need a full 4 ounces of greens for this mix, but go with a little more asparagus than mint (about 2 1/2 ounces asparagus and 1 1/2 ounces fresh mint leaves).