Do you want to bring pasta pesto to the next level? Then you need to try this homemade vegan mixed herb pesto. While it might not be as quick to make as your usual pasta pesto, trust me, it is worth going the extra mile. This mixed herb pesto will taste, unlike anything you ever had before. Also, making the pesto yourself gives you so much control over the final flavor, and it just tastes better homemade!
Ingredients for making Mixed Herb Pesto:
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Marjoram
- Oregano
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Nutritional yeast
- Lemon juice and zest
- Sunflower seeds
- Cashews
- Salt & pepper
I made my mixed herb pesto with herbs from my grandparent’s garden, nice and fresh. The fresher the herbs, the better for this recipe. Dried herbs won’t work. I went with a combination that I find to harmonize well, with lots of fresh marjorams, thyme, and oregano. A bit of fresh rosemary adds a nice note as well. To emulate some cheesy flavor, I am using nutritional yeast. Sunflower seeds and cashews pair well with this pesto. Garlic gives the pest a fresh and fragrant kick! Lastly, olive oil, lemon juice, and some lemon zest help preserve the pesto and round everything off.
How to make Mixed Herb Pesto:
Making this mixed herb pesto is super easy. First, wash the herbs. The most laborious part is stripping the leaves from the herbs. The more thorough you are doing this, the better: having stems in the pesto is just not enjoyable.
The only other step we need to take care of is toasting the seeds and nuts. The pesto tastes way better this way! Heat a pan to medium heat, and carefully toast the sunflower seeds and cashews separately. Their time to toast differs quite a lot, so I’d recommend taking the time to toast one after the other. Take them from the heat and let them cool before proceeding to make the pesto.
Once everything is prepared, add the herbs, nuts, and seeds to a food processor or whatever you use for blending. I am going with an immersion blender today. Next, add olive oil, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Blend the pesto until it reaches a consistency of your liking. I like some small chunks to remain!
Check the pesto for seasoning. Slowly add lemon zest and incorporate until the pesto tastes to your liking.
How to Store this Mixed Herb Pesto:
If you have some leftover pesto, you can add it to a jar and top it with additional olive oil. In the fridge, it should stay well for 2-3 days. Because of the fresh herbs, the top layer of the pesto can oxidize pretty quickly, turning into a not-so-sexy-looking brown. But don’t worry, the pesto can still be enjoyed, and it will taste just as delicious!
I hope you enjoyed this mixed herb pesto recipe. Let me know in the comments what you like to eat it with the most!
Some more Recipe Inspirations:
- Wild garlic pesto
- Easy Fig Chutney Recipe
- Wild garlic pasta
- Homemade tomato sauce
- Pesto Pasta
- Spaghetti alla puttanesca
- Herb oil recipe
- Spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino
- Penne all’arrabiata
Mixed Herb Pesto Recipe (Vegan)
This mixed herb pesto is super simple to make. It packs so much delicious flavour, you won’t want to eat normal pesto again!
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 1 jar 1x
Ingredients
1/4 tbsp thyme
1/4 tbsp fresh rosemary
1 cup tbsp marjoram
1 cup tbsp fresh oregano
80 ml olive oil
3 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 small clove garlic
1/2 lemon + zest
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup cashew nuts
Salt & pepper to season
60g cashews
Instructions
Wash the herbs and stripping the leaves from the stems.
Toast the nuts on medium heat separately and let them cool.
Add the herbs, nuts, and seeds to a food processor. Also, add the olive oil, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Blend the pesto until it reaches a consistency of your liking.
Check for seasoning. Slowly add the lemon zest, until the pesto tastes to your liking.
Notes
Top it with a sip of additional olive oil if you want to store the pesto.
The mixed herb pesto should keep fresh for 2-3 days in the fridge.
Because of the fresh herbs, the top layer of the pesto can oxidize pretty quickly. But don’t worry, the pesto will still taste delicious!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side, Pesto
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan