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Healthy, tasty pesto is a great addition to most kitchens. Regular pesto, like you can find in stores, contains Parmesan, which isn’t vegan. Here are some tips for finding or making your own vegan pesto.

Health food stores and Kosher grocers may carry dairy-free prepared pesto. Health food stores cater to vegetarians, and carry a range of specialty items designed with their eating habits in mind. Kosher grocers are similar, but for those following Kosher eating rules. Either will be easier to find in cities with large populations, but may also be found online.

A second purchased option is vegan Parmesan. Made from nuts and seasonings, this is available online or in health food stores. It is substituted directly for the Parmesan in any recipe. This option is expensive, though, and can be difficult to source. If the prepared option isn’t available, there are recipes for do-it-yourself, homemade, dairy-free Parmesan.

One common tip is to replace the Parmesan with extra nuts. Most recipes already contain pine nuts, but the addition of some ground almonds can push the flavor closer to the original. Some recipes suggest macadamia or other nuts, as well. Additional nuts increase the creaminess and fat content, standing in for Parmesan.

Of all the substitutions, the easiest is just don’t use it. Of the few people who notice the missing cheese, the slightly changed dish might be preferred. Removing one ingredient may make it less authentic, but it does not make it bad. It only becomes different.

With vegan pesto sourced and in-hand, the new problem is using it. The heavy basil flavor can be used to perk up soups and sauces, where it excels. It can also be used in place of other spreads on panini, in Italian-inspired burritos, or as a pizza base. And, of course, it can always be used on basic pasta. Read more about: Vegan Pesto

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