This red pepper pesto sauce is a bright & fresh sauce made with roasted red peppers, basil, garlic, and olive oil. A delicious and healthy sauce or dip, perfect to spread on a thick slice of garlic bread or toss with pasta.
This pesto without tomatoes is an easy red sauce that is made with fresh or jarred roasted red peppers. It’s the perfect addition to your next Spaghetti dinner, and so flavorful and delicious.
If you are a fan of fresh pesto sauce and want to try a little something new – this red pepper pesto is a flavor game-changer! This no-cook sauce uses roasted red bell peppers for a delicious and smoky taste, loaded with garlic and fresh basil for that classic pesto kick.
I love pesto everything, and have been wanting to test out a pepper pesto for a while – and this recipe did not disappoint! You can use this red pepper pesto on anything that you would use traditional pesto with: salads, appetizers, pizza, or pasta.
This Red Pepper Pesto Sauce Recipe Is:
- Bright
- Fresh
- Smoky
- Garlicky
- Tangy
- Delicious
- Loaded with Flavor
- Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Vegan, and Dairy Free
Make Red Pepper Pesto Vegan for a Healthy Version
This vegan avocado pesto with parsley is a simple way to get extra veggies in your diet. I’m all about making recipes plant-based when I can. Vegan cooking does NOT have to be bland, boring, or flavorless… It’s quite the opposite when done right. By building meals around vegan pantry staples and swapping in a few plant-based ingredients you can make healthier meals for you and your family.
Read my 125 favorite vegan pantry ingredients that we use on a weekly basis, and check out all my vegan recipes here that are on The Herbeevore. These easy and healthy recipes are fantastic meatless and dairy free meals for your table.
What’s In This Dairy Free Pesto with Peppers?
- Garlic, Basil – I stock up on organic produce with Misfits Market – they have a fantastic selection of in-season fruits & veggies, healthy pantry items, and great food finds for a fraction of grocery store prices! You can get $10 off your first $30 box by clicking here!
- Bell Pepper: If you don’t have fresh peppers, these sweet roasted red peppers are a great substitute! I love adding them to breakfast bakes, sandwiches or wraps, and soups.
- White Wine Vinegar: not to be confused with normal white vinegar, this white wine vinegar gives this recipe a really nice flavor.
- Olive Oil: I like to use this delicious Zoe olive oil which has a fantastic flavor and deep color- it’s fairly inexpensive, so I keep a few liters stocked up in my pantry. For the quality of oil you get, it’s an excellent value, I would highly recommend!
- Walnuts: because YUM. I always stock up a few bags walnuts which are super cheap and a great value for the quality.
- Red Chili Pepper Flakes: for a little heat, which gives this sauce a nice touch.
How Do I Make Pesto with Peppers?
- Roast the peppers – you can either use jarred roasted bell peppers, or make your own from scratch. Place bell peppers on the top rack of your oven, and broil them under the low broiler setting until flesh is charred. Remove from oven, allow peppers to cool, and remove charred flesh.
- Add Ingredients – to a food processor, add the bell peppers, basil, garlic, walnuts, chili flakes, and white vinegar. Secure the lid, and begin processing over low speed. Open the top of the food processor and stream in the olive oil until the pesto becomes a thick paste.
- Taste, and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve with bread, as a dip, or over pasta or pizza, and mangia!
What’s the Best Food Processor for Red Pesto?
We have this fantastic CuisinArt Food Processor that has lasted us years and years, and I have to say I’ve been very happy with it! It gets weekly use, and is great for chopping ingredients for sauces, making hummus, and pureeing vegetables. It’s really basic and inexpensive and gets the job done! While you can make this pesto in a blender, I prefer the texture of the food processor to get the herbs just right.
A No-Cook Pesto Recipe That’s Perfect for Summer
This no-cook red pepper pesto is a quick and simple recipe. I love a good no-cook recipe for those days when I’m not feeling like standing around the stove, or for summer nights when it’s too hot to cook. I have a whole collection of recipes that require zero cooking at all, check them out here! This pesto comes together in about 5 minutes, and doesn’t require the stove or microwave to make.
More Vegetable Pasta Sauce Recipes You’ll Love!
Creamy Vegan Lemon Pasta Recipe (Dairy Free, Plant-Based)
White Wine Tomato Sauce Recipe (Vegetarian, Gluten Free)
Pasta Ratatouille Recipe (Dairy & Gluten Free)
Cashew Alfredo Sauce Recipe (Dairy Free, Vegan, Gluten Free)
Creamy Tomato Eggplant Sauce Recipe (Vegan, Paleo, Whole30, GF)
Get the Same Ingredients for this Roasted Red Pepper Pesto:
As always, if you make this vegan and gluten free red pesto recipe be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag me @theherbeevore on Instagram so I can feature you. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!
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Red Pepper Pesto
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 ounces roasted red peppers drained
- 1 cup basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup walnuts toasted
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Roast the peppers - you can either use jarred roasted bell peppers, or make your own from scratch. Place bell peppers on the top rack of your oven, and broil them under the low broiler setting until flesh is charred. Remove from oven, allow peppers to cool, and remove charred flesh.
- Add Ingredients - to a food processor, add the bell peppers, basil, garlic, walnuts, chili flakes, and white vinegar. Secure the lid, and begin processing over low speed. Open the top of the food processor and stream in the olive oil until the pesto becomes a thick paste.
- Taste, and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve with bread, as a dip, or over pasta or pizza, and mangia!
Video
Notes
Save Money on Grocery Delivery!
I get all the fresh produce for my recipes from my garden and from Misfits Market - they sell all organic produce at a super discounted price, and it’s purchased direct from the farmers. We get Misfit Market boxes every month and love picking out our favorite seasonal produce for delivery. You can get $10 off your first $30 box by clicking here! If you think organic produce is too expensive... think again, and give Misfits Market a look!Nutrition
Or tag me @theherbeevore in your photo on Instagram and I'll feature you in my stories!
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Love this sauce