Vegan Basil Pesto - Belazu
A dairy-free take on Genovese pesto, made with basil, spinach, pine kernels and garlic, with haricot beans and inactive yeast standing in for the cheese.
Most vegan pesto is thin and oily. Belazu get round that with haricot beans for body and inactive yeast for the savoury depth that Parmesan normally brings, plus spinach for an extra layer of green. The result is fresh, fragrant and properly thick.
Stir it through pasta or orzo, drizzle it over pizza, bake it into focaccia with sun-dried tomatoes, or spread it in a sandwich. The classic version with Parmigiano is here.
- 165g jar
- Basil, spinach, pine kernels and garlic
- Free from dairy, soya and gluten
- Vegan
Ingredients
Basil Paste (basil, sunflower oil, salt, ascorbic acid), extra virgin olive oil, haricot beans, sunflower oil, fresh spinach, garlic purée, fresh basil, pine kernels, inactive yeast.
Allergens
No allergens declared. Belazu describe it as free from dairy, soya, gluten and nuts - it does contain pine kernels, which are seeds rather than one of the 14 declared allergens, so avoid it if you react to pine nuts.
Nutrition Information (per 100ml)
Energy 1855.9 kJ / 450 kcal
Fat 44.1g, of which saturates 5.4g
Carbohydrates 6.6g, of which sugars 0.9g
Fibre 4.9g
Protein 4.5g
Salt 2.9g
Storage
Once opened, keep refrigerated and use within four weeks.
FAQs
What replaces the cheese in vegan pesto?
Haricot beans give it body and inactive yeast gives it the savoury, slightly cheesy depth.
Is it gluten free?
Belazu describe it as free from gluten, dairy and soya.
Does it taste like normal pesto?
Close. It is a little greener and fresher from the spinach, and less salty than a Parmesan pesto, but it does the same job on pasta.
