AIP Pesto

This AIP Pesto is surprisingly fast, fresh, and flavorful! This AIP, Whole30 and Nut Free sauce is great on meat, veggies and so much more.

AIP Pesto Ingredients

• Fresh Basil
• Raw Cauliflower: If you’d prefer you can always use pumpkin or sunflower seeds instead of cauliflower or the more traditional pine nuts. This would also keep it nut free. As of 2023, the AIP diet was slit into core and modified. Modified is less restrictive and allows seeds like pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.  Using seeds as a substitute for pine nuts would also mean that this substitution fits the modified AIP diet.
• Non-Fortified Nutritional Yeast: Here is the brand of non-fortified nutritional yeast used in this recipe.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Anchovies
• Garlic
• Lemon
• Salt

How to make this AIP Basil Pesto

1. Add all ingredients to your food processor.

2. Blend until everything is combined.

3. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container until you are ready to use.

What is pesto?

Pesto or Pesto alla Genovese (in Italian), is a paste traditionally made of garlic, pine nuts, salt, basil leaves and grated parmesan or pecorino and extra virgin olive oil. This sauce originates from the city of Genoa and used with pasta.

Is pesto AIP friendly?

Traditionally, pesto is made with nuts and cheese which are not allowed during the elimination stage of the core autoimmune protocol diet. However, this recipe has been adapted to include cauliflower and nutritional yeast to replace pine nuts and cheese.

What is nutritional yeast?

Nutritional yeast is common in vegan dishes to add a ‘cheesy’ flavor. In this recipe, it replaces the parmesan cheese. Make sure that your nutritional yeast is AIP by getting non fortified nutritional yeast. If you’re looking for other recipes using nutritional yeast, try our Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Kale Chips, Avocado Caesar Dressing, Dairy Free Crab Dip, or AIP Mozzarella Cheese. Here is the brand that was used in this recipe.

Are pine nuts AIP compliant?

As of 2023, the AIP diet was slit into core and modified. Modified is less restrictive but still does not allow nuts.  

AIP Pesto vs Pesto

Traditional pesto uses pine nuts and parmesan cheese. Since the AIP diet is nut and dairy free, then we’ve had to find substitutes like cauliflower and nutritional yeast. If you prefer, you can use pumpkin or sunflower seeds as a substitute for pine nuts. That would keep it modified AIP. We’ve also added some anchovies to the AIP basil pesto recipe to give an umami flavor that is unique to cheese.

Ways to use AIP Pesto Sauce

• Pizza: It’s a great way to replace a tomato or nomato sauce on pizza.
• Pasta: Jovial has a few cassava pasta options (totally AIP!).
• Chicken: Use as a sauce to bake with chicken and veggies.
• Salmon: Another great topping for baked salmon or other fish.

Tips for making the best nut free pesto recipe.

• Store in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to a week.
• This is easy to freeze. You can use freezer cubes to save it in smaller servings. It will last up to 3 months.
• If you’re not dairy free or you’ve been able to reintroduce it, then you can replace the nutritional yeast with 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. Please note that dairy is a reintroduction.
• If you’re able to tolerate nuts, then you can substitute the cauliflower for pine nuts. Please note that nuts are a reintroduction.
• If you’d prefer you can always use pumpkin or sunflower seeds instead of cauliflower or the more traditional pine nuts. This would also keep it nut free. As of 2023, the AIP diet was slit into core and modified. Modified is less restrictive and allows seeds like pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.  Using seeds as a substitute for pine nuts would also mean that this substitution fits the modified AIP diet.
• You can easily substitute or partially substitute the basil with spinach, mint, or Thai basil for an interesting twist on this traditional recipe.
• This is a similar food processor to what I used but it’s quite large. If you don’t need a larger capacity food processor, this one is smaller and more affordable.
• Here is the brand of non-fortified nutritional yeast used in this recipe.

What are some good recipes using olive oil?

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Helpful Info for All Recipes

• I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise.
• I always use Himalayan sea salt or Celtic sea salt, unless otherwise noted.
• The majority of my recipes are strict AIP or include notations for reintroductions. However while I make every effort to label non-AIP ingredients and recipes sometimes they slip past me. If you have questions, check out this post regarding 'What is the AIP diet?' or ask in advance.