Nut-Free Pesto
Sunflower seeds instead of pine nuts are cheaper, schoolyard-friendly, and almost indistinguishable in taste.
- Preparation
- 15 min
- Cook/bake time
- –
- Total
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
Sunflower seeds instead of pine nuts are cheaper, schoolyard-friendly, and almost indistinguishable in taste. Pine nuts are botanically seeds and not in Annex II of the Food Information Regulation, but many daycares and schools exclude them anyway. Sunflower seeds solve the problem and bring the same creaminess.
Why this works
What makes a pesto creamy is the fat content of the seed and its ability to be finely grated. Sunflower seeds have around 50 percent fat, comparable to pine nuts, and no hard shell that wouldn't dissolve. The difference lies in the aroma. Sunflower seeds are more neutral and slightly earthier, which is why there are two tablespoons of lemon juice here instead of one. The acidity lifts the basil and balances the missing sweetness of the pine nuts. Everything else follows pesto physics. Mix briefly and in bursts so the mixture doesn't get above 50 degrees and become bitter, and fold in the oil by hand instead of mixing it in.
Step-by-step instructions
- 1
Toast the seeds and let them cool
Toast the sunflower seeds for two to three minutes in a dry pan until fragrant, and immediately pour them onto a cold plate. Complete cooling is mandatory. Warm seeds heat up the mixture, and above 50 degrees basil becomes bitter.
- 2
Prepare the basil
Wash the leaves and spin them really dry. Residual water dilutes the pesto and shortens its shelf life because it breaks through the protective oil layer.
- 3
Mix in bursts
Put the basil, cooled seeds, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, and salt in the blender and work in short bursts of two seconds each. Push down the sides in between. Two tablespoons of lemon juice sounds like a lot, but they balance the missing sweetness of the pine nuts.
- 4
Fold in the oil
Fold in the oil by hand with a spoon. If blended, good olive oil becomes bitter because the blade tears its oil cells. Pour into a jar and cover with a layer of oil.
Our best tips
- Two tablespoons of lemon instead of one. Sunflower seeds are more neutral than pine nuts, and the acidity replaces the missing sweetness.
