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    Home » Recipes

    Healthy Dairy Free Pistachio Pesto Pasta

    Published: Feb 23, 2022 by Katelyn | With Sweet Honey · This post may contain affiliate links Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Are you ready to up your pasta game? This healthy dairy free pistachio pesto is packed with simple whole ingredients and is a perfect pesto sauce to compliment your favorite pasta noodles.

    pistachio pesto pasta in a white bowl with a fork on a table

    Pistachio Pesto

    It’s finally warming up here in Minnesota. Okay, not really, but it has been above zero and sunny the past week so it’s making me feel like spring is actually around the corner (insert happy dance)! Because of this, I have a new urge to make colorful spring dishes! This pistachio pesto pasta is vibrant green and just screams spring vibes.

    pistachio pesto pasta in a white bowl with a fork

    This pesto recipe is perfect for those days you don’t want to eat a salad but still want to get your daily veggies in. It is also super simple to make! The longest part of this recipe is waiting for the water to boil for your pasta.

    Traditional pesto, which originated from Italy, calls for basil, pine nuts and parmesan cheese. This unconventional pistachio pesto uses ingredients like pistachios, spinach, broccoli, avocado and garlic that make this dish delicious, creamy, and dairy free!

    ingredients for pistachio pesto on a wooden tray

    Ingredients in Dairy Free Pistachio Pesto Pasta

    • Pasta: Use whatever pasta you prefer but I use gluten free pasta.
    • Pistachios: Make sure that you shell your pistachios or buy them already shelled. The pistachios give this dish that delicious nutty flavor that pesto is known for.
    • Broccoli: You don’t taste the broccoli much in this dish but it is a great way to sneak more veggies into your diet.
    • Spinach: The spinach is another healthy ingredient added to this pesto and gives that vibrant green color.
    • Avocado: The avocado adds a delicious creamy texture.
    • Lime: A touch of fresh lime juice.
    • Garlic: Two cloves of minced garlic is added in this recipe.
    • Olive oil: The olive oil can be substituted for water if you are avoiding oil.
    • Water: Feel free to adjust the amount of water added if you want the pesto to be thicker or runnier.
    • Salt & pepper: Adjust the amount of salt and pepper to taste preference.

    How To Make Pistachio Pesto Pasta

    Step 1: Cook pasta as directed on the packaging.

    Step 2: In the meantime, make the pesto by first blanching the broccoli. To do this, bring a medium pot of water to boil. Place a bowl of ice water nearby. Then blanch the broccoli for 1 minute, until the broccoli turns bright green. Transfer the broccoli with a slotted spoon and place it in the ice water. Then drain and pat the broccoli dry and set aside.

    Step 3: Place the shelled pistachios in the food processor. Blend on high for a few seconds, until the pistachios are broken down into fine pieces.

    blended pistachio pieces in a blender

    Step 4: Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and blend until combined and pesto is creamy.

    broccoli, spinach and avocado in a blender
    green pistachio pesto blended in a small blender

    Step 5: Toss the Pesto with the cooked pasta and serve as desired. Season to taste.

    Tips For Making Pistachio Pesto

    Consistency: Feel free to adjust the amount of water added in this recipe. I suggest the amounts I do based on my texture preference for the pesto but it can be adjusted depending on how thick or runny you’d like the pesto to be.

    Blanching the broccoli: To save space and time, the fresh broccoli is blanched in a pot of boiling water. This softens the broccoli so it is easier to blend into the pesto. To save time, you could microwave the broccoli with a little bit of water for a few seconds to soften it.

    Equipment Needed

    Food processor or blender: I use my food processor to blend the pesto together. Make sure to use a food processor or high speed blender so the pistachios are able to be broken down into fine pieces.

    More Dinner Recipes:

    • Spicy Sesame Peanut Zucchini Noodles
    • Broccoli Alfredo Pasta
    • Baked Tuscan Chicken 
    • Easy Spicy Honey Garlic Shrimp
    • Baked Lemon Pepper Salmon with Brussels Sprouts

    Tried this recipe?

    Did you like this recipe? Let me know in the comments below. Also check out my Instagram and Pinterest for more food photography inspiration and recipes!

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    This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting With Sweet Honey!

    pistachio pesto pasta in a white bowl with a fork on a table

    Healthy Dairy Free Pistachio Pesto Pasta

    This dairy free pistachio pesto pasta is packed with simple whole ingredients and is vegan and gluten free.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: dairy free pesto, homemade pesto, pistachio pesto, pistachio pesto pasta
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Katelyn | With Sweet Honey

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb bag of gluten free pasta (or you can use regular)

    For the Pesto:

    • 1 cup broccoli
    • ⅔ cup pistachios shelled
    • ½ cup spinach
    • ¼ of an avocado
    • Juice of ½ Lime
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • 4 tbsp olive oil*
    • ¼ cup water
    • ¼ tsp salt to taste
    • ¼ tsp pepper

    Instructions

    • Cook pasta as directed on the packaging.
    • In the meantime, make the pesto by first blanching the broccoli. To do this, bring a medium pot of water to boil. Place a bowl of ice water nearby. Then blanch the broccoli for 1 minute, until the broccoli turns bright green. Transfer the broccoli with a slotted spoon and place it in the ice water. Then drain and pat the broccoli dry and set aside.
    • Place the shelled pistachios in the food processor. Blend on high for a few seconds, until the pistachios are broken down into fine pieces.
      Pistachios ground up in a food processor
    • Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and blend until combined and pesto is creamy.
      pistachio pesto in a food processor
    • Toss the Pesto with the cooked pasta and serve as desired. Season to taste.

    Notes

    • *If avoiding using olive oil, you can use water instead. Feel free to add or subtract the amount of water based on your preference on how thick you want the pesto to be.
    Tried this recipe?Tag @withsweethoney on Instagram!
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    Hi, I'm Katelyn! I create gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo recipes that are easy and delicious. Food should make you feel good, and I hope my recipes inspire you to try something new. Happy cooking!

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