Quick and super flavourful vegan & gluten-free Wild Garlic Pesto – Amazing tossed with pasta, and just as tasty as a condiment for salads & baked potatoes!
If you're looking for a speedy sauce that goes well with just about anything, this wild garlic pesto definitely fits the bill.
I love wild garlic pesto sauce just as much as the traditional basil pesto recipe.
It's LOADED with flavour, incredibly easy to make and, as an added bonus, it's totally vegan and gluten-free and ready in 15 min.
Ready in just 5 minutes, all you only need to make this easy recipe is 4 ingredients :
- fresh wild garlic leaves
- toasted pine nuts
- almond flour (optional)
- lemon juice
- high-quality extra-virgin olive oil
- salt & pepper
To make it more traditional and add extra umami flavour, you can also replace the almond flour with a bit of Parmesan cheese.
How to make Wild Garlic Pesto
Making this easy sauce couldn't be easier.
Throw the fresh wild garlic leaves in a food processor and blitz until broken down, then gradually fold in almond flour if using (or Parmesan cheese), pine nuts, and finally olive oil, and continue to blend until smooth.
Finally season with salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste, and you're pretty much done.
You can also follow the traditional pesto making route and use a mortar. The process requires a bit of extra work, but the result is guaranteed to wow you!
WHAT TO DO WITH THE PESTO
This awesome vegan pesto recipe makes the perfect pasta companion.
For an extra creamy pasta, reserve ⅓ cup of pasta cooking water, and mix it with the pesto sauce before adding the pasta.
Sprinkle a bit of lemon zest on top and you'll have a delicious dinner ready in less than 15 minutes.
This pesto sauce is also great used as a condiment for baking potatoes, grilled fish/meat/chicken, spread over a sandwich, or used as a dressing for salads.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to use it:
Steak Salad Bowl: Substitute the chimichurri sauce with this pesto for a delicious seasonal twist on this protein-packed salad.
Grilled Chicken with Potato & Green Bean Salad: Top this juicy grilled chicken with a tablespoon of pesto for a refreshing and extra flavourful kick.
Hasselback Sweet Potato: Swap the guacamole sauce with pesto, for a super tasty vegan & gluten-free meal that will get rave reviews from carnivores too!
Wild Garlic Pesto {Vegan & GF}
Ingredients
- 150 g wild garlic leaves, stems cut off, washed
- 70 g almond flour, or Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 70 g toasted pine nuts
- 100 ml good extra-virgin olive oil
- lemon juice
- sea salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place wild garlic leaves in a food processor and blitz until broken down.
- Add almond flour (if using) and blend until combined, then whilst the motor is going, gradually fold in pine nuts and olive oil and continue to mix until smooth and creamy.
- Drizzle with a splash of lemon juice (I use half lemon), and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Store in a clean jar and top with extra olive oil to preserve the pesto.
- Store in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
Make sure to wash wild garlic leaves thoroughly and pat them dry with kitchen paper before use.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Heather says
Absolutely gorgeous! This sounds amazing and I am so jealous you have wild garlic. This is a great recipe to use in so many different dishes.
Natalie says
Oh man, this sounds sooo good. A wild garlic?! I have to get my hands on that one. I'm super huge garlic fan.
Michelle Blackwood says
Wow this is a simple recipe that I want to make as soon as I can find wild garlic at my local farmers market.
Michele @ Queenbeebaker says
I’ve never used wild garlic before but this pesto looks and sounds amazing! I hope I’m lucky enough to find some because I’m definitely putting this recipe on my list to make.
Sara says
I love pesto so much! And using any type of greens that aren't the typical basil is so awesome. Looks perfect!
Karyl Henry says
Oh wow, I've never even seen wild garlic before! I absolutely love making my own pesto. If I can figure out where to find wild garlic, I'm definitely going to try this
Tamara Andersen (Beyond Mere Sustenance) says
I've not been fortunate enough to find wild garlic, but I LOVE garlic, and I'll keep looking... I could think of so many ways to use your Wild Garlic Pesto. Yum.
Marisa Franca says
We would you believe we planted ramps (wild garlic) several years ago. I've yet to use it. Whenever we come back from our winter vacation it's gone. I'd love to make this pesto -- I bet it's delicious. Perhaps next year I'll be able to use my ramps.
Veena Azmanov says
I love wild garlic so when my grocer has some in season I pick a bag full. Love how mild the flavor is and you add so much more. I must try this soon. Sounds so yum.
Paige says
Yum..this sounds awesome and also easy..I think this would be great on a lot of different dishes...delish looking!
Kate says
This sounds so delicious. I just wish I knew where I could find wild garlic like that!
Laineey says
I wish I could find wild garlic! I wouldn't even know where to look. But, I'm sure I could still make your delicious pesto! It looks so vibrant and delicious!