• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fresh Water Peaches
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Lifestyle
    • Shop
  • About Me
  • Contact
    • Work With Me
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Lifestyle
  • Shop
  • Work With Me!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • About Me
    • Lifestyle
    • Shop
    • Work With Me!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Pasta Dishes

    Pesto with Cashews

    Published: Jul 6, 2022 by Mariah Mandile

    • Share on Twitter
    • Share on Facebook
    • Share on Pinterest
    • Share via Email
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Pesto with Cashews is a creamy sauce that goes well with a variety of recipes! This pesto is made without cheese and takes about 5 minutes to prepare.

    Fork with big bite of pesto on penne pasta.

    Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you choose to purchase through qualifying links.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • 🍴Ingredient Notes
    • 🍴Step by Step Instructions
    • Gluten-Free Pasta Tips
    • Whole30 & Grain-Free Pasta
    • How to Store Leftovers
    • How to Freeze Pesto
    • Recipe
    • Want more recipes?
    • 💬 Reviews

    Why you'll love this recipe

    Cashew Pesto is a delicious light and creamy sauce that goes well with a variety of dishes! You can add it to pizza, pasta, grilled vegetables, chicken, roasted potatoes, or spread it on toast!

    Typically, pesto is made with pine nuts, but this recipe uses raw cashews which gives it a delicious dairy-free cheesy flavor!

    🍴Ingredient Notes

    Cashew Pesto with ingredients measured out.
    • Basil - Fresh basil is what gives this recipe a lot of the flavor. Make sure you pack the basil into the measuring cups.
    • Raw Cashews - It's important to use raw cashews without added salt or oils. I found mine at Trader Joe's!
    • Lemon Juice - Fresh or pre-squeezed lemon juice will work. (Fresh is always best!)
    • Olive Oil - I would not swap for any other oils.
    • Garlic - Fresh garlic works best for this recipe, but you can also swap for ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
    • Spices - Pesto is a simple recipe that doesn't require many spices! Just add salt and black pepper to enhance the other flavors.

    🍴Step by Step Instructions

    Step 1: Pesto Ingredients

    Start by adding all ingredients in a food processor or blender.

    Pesto ingredients in a food processor.

    Step 2: Blending Pesto

    Blend until pesto is a smooth and creamy consistency. (Add water if needed.)

    Creamy cashew pesto in a food processor.
    Pesto in a glass bowl with spoon.

    Gluten-Free Pasta Tips

    For this recipe I used Jovial Brown Rice Penne. Jovial is one of my favorite gluten-free pasta brands!

    They have a huge selection of shapes and are made with simple ingredients. (Plus they're organic!)

    The Whole Foods brand makes a delicious chickpea pasta that is also organic, and only has ONE ingredient – chickpeas.

    Whole30 & Grain-Free Pasta

    If you're interested in a grain-free option, try making vegetable noodles! I highly recommend purchasing an inspiralizer.  

    I've had mine for about five years, and it's amazing!! I use it for zucchini, broccoli, yellow squash, beets, sweet potato

    Pasta with pesto in a white bowl.

    How to Store Leftovers

    Leftovers can be stored in an airtight glass container for 5-7 days.

    How to Freeze Pesto

    Add leftover pesto to an ice cube tray. Freeze until solid, and then transfer the cubes into an airtight freezer safe container.

    More pasta recipes!

    • Fork scooping out pesto pasta.
      Mushroom Pesto Pasta (Dairy-Free)
    • Close up picture of fork in pasta dish.
      Simple Veggie Pasta (Gluten-Free)
    • Fork twirling spaghetti on plate with Tuscan Chicken.
      One Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta
    • Fork twirling fettucine with pumpkin pasta sauce.
      Pumpkin Pasta Sauce (Dairy-Free)

    After you make this Pesto with Cashews, make sure to leave a comment & rate the recipe!

    Recipe

    Pasta with pesto in a white bowl.

    Pesto with Cashews

    Pesto with Cashews is a creamy sauce that goes well with a variety of recipes! This recipe is made without cheese and takes about 5 minutes to prepare.
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Servings 4
    Calories 205 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Food Processor

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 Cup Basil
    • ¾ Cup Raw Cashews
    • ⅓ Cup Lemon Juice
    • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
    • 2 Cloves of Garlic
    • 1 Teaspoon Salt
    • ¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Start by adding all ingredients in a food processor or blender.
    • Blend until pesto is a smooth and creamy consistency. (Add water if needed.)

    Notes

    How to Store Leftovers

    Leftovers can be stored in an airtight glass container for 5-7 days.

    How to Freeze Pesto

    Add leftover pesto to an ice cube tray. Freeze until solid, and then transfer the cubes into an airtight freezer safe container.
    **See full post for more information and step-by-step photos.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 205kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 5gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gSodium: 585mgPotassium: 224mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 635IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 2mg
    Keywords basil pesto with cashews, cashew pesto, how to make pesto with cashews
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @freshwaterpeaches on Instagram!

    Want more recipes?

    Check out my recipe box where you can browse by season, diet, and flavor!

    Recipe Index

    More Pasta Dishes

    • Bowl of creamy butternut squash pasta with fork scooping up penne.
      Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce
    • Overhead picture of lasagna soup in a black bowl.
      One Pot Lasagna Soup
    • Lemon orzo salad with fresh vegetables in the background.
      Lemon Orzo Salad
    • Pesto orzo salad in a white bowl with lemon slices on top.
      Pesto Orzo Salad

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Girl with blonde hair holding coffee cup.

    Hi, I'm Mariah!

    Welcome! I'm so happy you're here. My name is Mariah - I'm a holistic health coach and recipe developer based in Connecticut. I love all things gut health, clean living, and I have a slight obsession with chocolate! Here you'll find simple and easy to make gluten-free, dairy-free recipes that your whole family will love!

    Winter Recipes!

    • Spoon scooping out spicy chicken soup.
      Spicy Chicken Soup Recipe
    • Gingerbread bars with white frosting stacked on top of each other.
      Gingerbread Cookie Bars (Gluten-Free)
    • Gingerbread cookie sandwich cut in half on a small plate.
      Gingerbread Cookie Sandwiches (Gluten-Free)
    • Apple crumble muffins on parchment paper with cinnamon sticks and apples.
      Apple Crumble Muffins (Gluten-Free)

    Trending Recipes!

    • Fork swirling pasta with chicken alfredo with broccoli.
      Dairy Free Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli
    • Spoon scooping out buffalo chicken casserole.
      Buffalo Chicken Casserole with Cauliflower (Dairy-Free)
    • Close up picture of cassava flour bread slice.
      Cassava Flour Bread (Paleo)
    • Holding up slice of vanilla cake with raspberries on top.
      Almond Flour Vanilla Cake

    No-Bake Recipes!

    • Chocolate cherry cup broken in half.
      Dark Chocolate Cherry Cups
    • Overhead picture of fruit charcuterie board.
      Healthy Fruit Charcuterie Board
    • Frozen banana bites with dark chocolate drizzled on top.
      Frozen Banana Bites
    • Spoon scooping out thick chocolate mousse.
      Gluten-Free Chocolate Mousse (Vegan)

    Want healthy recipes sent right to your inbox? Join the newsletter to get my FREE eBook with 6 Gluten-Free + Dairy-Free Recipes!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Contact me!

    Send me a message!

    Stay up to date!

    Join my newsletter to get healthy recipes sent right to your inbox!

    Work with me!

    Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Fresh Water Peaches all rights reserved.