Easy Dairy-free Pesto! Make it yourself or order from Atlyss Food Co.
This pesto is perfect for adding to pasta, dressings, avocado toast, veggies, & more! My favorite recently has been adding it straight to zucchini noodles for a beautiful, healthy dish. If you’re local in Charleston, you can order this dish from Atlyss Food Co., a meal delivery service offering healthy meals to your door.
Basil is the main ingredient in pesto. The most common cooking basil used as a fresh herb in recipes is sweet basil or Italian basil, which is high in antioxidants, magnesium, and vitamins.
Benefits of Basil:
Immune Boosting: This herb’s antioxidants and oils have the ability to help fight free radical damage while protecting DNA structure and cells. This herb contains flavonoid antioxidants, such as orientin and viceninare, which help protect white blood cells responsible for immune function, as well as cellular structures where DNA is stored.
Anti-Inflammatory: Basil contains powerful essential oils, including eugenol, citronellol, and linalool. Findings from studies indicate that these enzyme-inhibiting oils help lower inflammation, which is at the root of most diseases.
Anti-Bacterial: The essential oils in basil provide protection against harmful bacterial growth. One study tested the antibacterial activity of basil oil against strains of E. coli and other powerful bacteria. The results showed that it was effective in acting against the bacteria strains and helping to inhibit their growth.
I recommend growing your own basil plant or starting a herb garden. Adding basil and other herbs to your dishes and boost the nutrition content and provide powerful benefits.
If you live in the Charleston area and have not heard of Atlyss Food Co., let me introduce you.
Atlyss Food Co delivers fresh, delicious meals, condiments, juices, and locally sourced staples like eggs, cheese, dairy, and produce. Atlyss values local produce grown organically and sustainably, livestock that is raised ethically, and practices environmentally conscious business practices.
How it works:
There is a new menu posted weekly on Saturdays
Order online by midnight on Tuesdays
Meals get delivered to your door the following Monday (or pickup in N. Charleston)
This week Atlyss is offering Pesto Zucchini Salad made with my dairy-free pesto recipe, zucchini, & sun-dried tomatoes.
Be sure to follow Atlyss Food Co. on Instagram and get on their email list for weekly menu updates!
Dairy-free Pesto in 5 Minutes!
Perfect for adding to sauces, pasta, dressings, avocado toast, and more! My favorite recently has been adding it straight to zucchini noodles for a beautiful, healthy side dish.
Makes 1.5 cups pesto | Time: 5 minutes
2 cups arugula
1.5 cups basil
1/4 cup walnuts
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp lemon zest
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt
Pepper
Directions:
Add ingredients to a food processor or small blender blend/mix on high until loose paste forms.
Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. After that, pour into ice cube molds, freeze, and store for up to 1 month or more.
If you make this recipe and enjoy it, be sure to tag @AKFunctionalNutrition & @Atlyssfoodsco on Instagram!