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    Home » Tofu

    Spinach Pesto

    Published: Jul 22, 2022 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Our spinach pesto is an easy dairy-free recipe that you can make in 5 minutes in a food processor.

    We use tofu to make the spinach pesto recipe creamy and nutritious. You can use the pesto with your favorite pasta, spread it on a sandwich, or as a pizza topping.

    Spinach pesto in a bowl with spoon
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • More Pesto Recipes
    • More Tofu Recipes
    • Recipe

    Check out our best tofu recipe collection!

    Creamy, light, nutritious, and super easy to make. This spinach pesto made with tofu and spinach is a winner for a last-minute, quick, and easy dinner.

    Honestly, vegan pesto is surprisingly simple to make and is an excellent way to use up veggies leftovers since you can make it with most veggies.

    In this recipe, the fresh spinach gives a bright green color while also making the pesto tasty and nutritious. It pairs perfectly with pasta topped with grated lemon zest.

    If you love pesto, give this recipe a try. For more pesto ideas, check out our basil pesto recipe, or go to our zucchini pesto, artichoke pesto, red pepper pesto, or arugula pesto. They are all simple and delicious recipes.

    Spinach pesto in a pan with pasta

    Ingredients

    Spinach

    We prefer to use fresh spinach leaves, such as baby spinach. However, frozen spinach work too.

    Tofu

    We use firm tofu to make a creamy pesto that is not too liquid.

    Almonds

    Almonds add healthy fats and texture. You can replace almonds with cashews, macadamia, pine nuts, and walnuts.

    Water

    It helps get the blender going.

    Olive oil

    Choose a good quality extra virgin olive oil.

    Nutritional yeast

    Optional, but we recommend it if you want to give the pesto a cheesy flavor. Together with the almonds, Nutritional yeast makes a good substitute for parmesan cheese.

    If you are not vegan, you can replace nutritional yeast with parmesan cheese or pecorino romano.

    Lemon juice

    We use lemon juice for freshness and acidity.

    Garlic

    Fresh garlic cloves go well in most pesto recipes, including this one.

    Instructions

    To make spinach pesto, you'll need fresh or frozen spinach that you'll cook in a pan with a bit of oil, garlic, and a pinch of salt until most of the cooking water of the spinach has evaporated.

    It'll take you about 5 minutes with the fresh spinach. 

    Spinach sauteed in a pan

    Let them cool a bit and in the meantime, prepare the bowl of a food processor and add in firm tofu, almonds, water, extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, nutritional yeast, the cooked spinach, and garlic with which we cooked the spinach.

    ingredients in a blender

    Blend for one to two minutes until you get a pesto-like consistency, then taste and adjust for olive oil and salt.

    Spinach pesto in a bowl

    Serving suggestions

    Use spinach pesto with pasta

    To use this pesto in a pasta dish, heat it for two minutes in a pan with a ladleful of pasta cooking water to turn it into a spinach pesto sauce.

    Cook the pasta in a large pot with plenty of salted boiling water. Then drain the pasta al dente and add it to the pan.

    With our doses for the pesto, you'll serve 6 to 8 people, depending on how much you dilute it with water. 

    warm up the pesto in a pan

    Toss the pasta in the pan for a minute, adding a little cooking water if needed, then serve. I serve about 80 grams of pasta per person here. 

    Mix pasta with spinach pesto

    Tofu is a great way to add plant-based protein to pasta, improving its nutritional profile. 

    Spinach pesto in a pan with pasta

    Then if you like, grate some lemon zest on top to add a touch of freshness.

    This recipe is healthy and nutritious and can be prepared quickly.

    Spaghetti covered in green spinach pesto

    Variations

    Spinach basil pesto

    Would you like to have a light basil flavor? Then you can add a packed cup of fresh basil leaves to the other ingredients to make turn this recipe into a beautifully aromatic spinach basil pesto recipe.

    You can also choose a different vegetable to make the pesto with. Try artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, or even arugula and zucchini.

    zucchini pesto
    Zucchini pesto, a refreshing variation of spinach pesto

    Storage

    Store whatever is leftover from the spinach pesto in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

    To thaw, add it to a pan with a bit of pasta water to help melt it. You can also thaw it in the refrigerator, it'll take longer, but it will work.

    More Pesto Recipes

    This easy and protein-rich spinach pesto is an excellent addition to pasta, sandwiches, and drizzled on vegetables. For more pesto inspiration, see these other colorful condiments:

    • parsley pesto
      Parsley Pesto
    • red pepper pesto
      Red Pepper Pesto
    • vegan pesto
      Vegan Basil Pesto
    • Artichoke pesto close up in a bowl
      Artichoke Pesto

    Or get more ideas for easy dressings and sauces with our best 25 vegan sauce recipes.

    More Tofu Recipes

    If you enjoy easy dinners much as we do, have a look at our other easy tofu recipes:

    • tofu cream cheese on bread
      Tofu Cream Cheese
    • marinated tofu on rice
      Marinated Tofu
    • tofu pasta with tofu bolognese sauce
      Tofu Pasta (Tofu Bolognese)
    • orange tofu served in a bowl on rice with spring onion.
      Orange Tofu
    • tofu curry in a bowl with rice
      Tofu Curry
    • tofu soup with spoon
      Tofu Soup
    • Tofu Salad with dressing
      Tofu Salad
    • Tofu scramble on bread with vegetables
      Tofu Scramble

    For many more tofu ideas, check out our tofu category page.

    Recipe

    Spinach Pesto with tofu in a pan

    Spinach pesto

    Author: Nico
    Our spinach pesto is an easy dairy-free recipe that you can make in 5 minutes in a food processor.
    We use tofu to make the spinach pesto creamy and nutritious. You can use the pesto with your favorite pasta, spread in a sandwich, or as a pizza topping.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    4.58 from 7 votes
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Dressing & Sauces
    Cuisine International
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 157 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Blender or food processor

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 7 ounces spinach
    • 2 ounces firm tofu
    • ⅓ cup almonds
    • ⅓ cup water
    • 4 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
    • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
    • 1 clove garlic
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 twists pepper

    Instructions
     

    • On a non-stick pan, cook the spinach till they are completely soft and their water has evaporated.
      Spinach sauteed in a pan
    • To a blender, add all the ingredients including the cooked spinach and blend till you get a a creamy pesto.
      Taste and add more salt or more nutritional yeast based on your taste.
      ingredients in a blender
    • Before serving the pesto, warm it up in a pan with some pasta cooking water, then add the pasta, mix well, and serve with some grated lemon zest on top.
      Spinach pesto in a pan with pasta
    • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
      Spinach pesto in a bowl

    Video Recipe

    https://youtu.be/R3tIdwuGXTk

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Spinach pesto
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 157 Calories from Fat 126
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 14g22%
    Saturated Fat 2g13%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
    Monounsaturated Fat 9g
    Cholesterol 0mg0%
    Potassium 297mg8%
    Carbohydrates 5g2%
    Dietary Fiber 3g13%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 5g10%
    Vitamin A 3103IU62%
    Vitamin B6 1mg50%
    Vitamin C 9mg11%
    Vitamin E 4mg27%
    Vitamin K 166µg158%
    Calcium 72mg7%
    Folate 68µg17%
    Iron 2mg11%
    Manganese 1mg50%
    Magnesium 48mg12%
    Zinc 1mg7%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

    If you liked this recipe, you might also like:

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      35 Best Vegan Recipes
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      40 Vegan Pasta Recipes
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sylvie

      February 04, 2022 at 8:41 pm

      4 stars
      Until now, I tried it only with pasta, but I will definitely use it on bread, pizza and with other vegetables. I thought I already had my favourite Pesto-recipe, but, well, I guess I just changed my mind.
      It`s easy, adjustable to your needs and super tasty!

      Reply
      • Chef Nico

        February 12, 2022 at 8:16 am

        I'm delighted you liked the recipe, Sylvie! My favourite serving suggestion is on crunchy sourdough bread, it's delicious! Cheers, Nico

        Reply

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