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    Home » Sauces, Dressings and Dips

    Easy Thai Basil Pesto

    Published: Apr 8, 2022 by Meesha · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    2 images of a jar of Thai basil pesto with pasta beside with text between the images.
    A bowl of Thai basil pesto pasta served with fork with text at the bottom half.
    A bowl of Thai basil pesto pasta with fork beside with text overlay.

    This Thai basil pesto is flavorful, nutty, and incredibly rich in flavor! A great condiment to have on hand to spice up your meals. Easy to make and is ready in 10 minutes. 

    Spooning out some Thai basil pesto from a jar with pasta, chopped peanuts, and basil leaves beside.

    Whether you are a fan of pesto or not, you have to give this Thai basil pesto a try! It is packed full of Asian flavors and is a super versatile condiment to have on hand. You can use it as a pasta sauce, salad dressing, or even in sandwiches and wraps. 

    The best part is it is super simple to whip up and is ready in minutes! I love making a batch of it during the weekends to be enjoyed throughout the week. 

    Jump to:
    • 🤔What is Thai basil
    • 🥜What you will need
    • 📃Ingredients notes and substitutions 
    • 🔪How to make 
    • ✔Helpful tips 
    • ❄Storing suggestions 
    • 🍝How to serve
    • ❔Commonly asked questions
    • 🍽More vegan condiments and dressings
    • 📖 Recipe

    🤔What is Thai basil

    Originated from Southeast Asia, Thai basil is a close relative to the classic sweet basil but has a bolder flavor. Its taste can be described as pungent, spicy, and licorice-like. Unlike sweet basil, they have thin, pointed leaves and a dark purple stem.

    Thai basil is commonly used in Asian cuisines and can be added to anything from curries and stews to stir-fries.

    🥜What you will need

    Ingredients needed like basil. peanuts, garlic, ginger, lime, and seasonings.

    📃Ingredients notes and substitutions 

    • Peanuts - Can be substituted with almonds or pine nuts. 
    • Thai basil - You can find them in some groceries or your local Asian market. Substitute it with regular sweet basil if you can’t find any! 
    • Lime - Although I am using Calamansi lime here, you can substitute it with the juice of regular limes. 
    • Maple syrup - Other liquid sweeteners like agave syrup or coconut nectar work well. Honey will work too if you are not vegan. 
    • Soy sauce - Can be substituted with tamari or shoyu. Use gluten-free ones if needed. 

    🔪How to make 

    All you have to do is combine everything into a food processor or blender and blend until desired consistency is achieved. Feel free to add some water if you like it to be thinner. 

    Collage showing before and after blending pesto in a food processor.

    ✔Helpful tips 

    • While blending your pesto, gradually add in water, about ½ tablespoon at a time to thin it out. Also, do scrape down the sides to ensure even blending.  
    • Make this recipe nut-free by using sunflower seeds in place of peanuts. 
    • I recommend adding a generous pinch of chili flakes to your Thai basil pesto if you love spice. 

    ❄Storing suggestions 

    Fridge - Transfer pesto into a sealed glass jar or container. Optionally, top it with a thin layer of oil to prevent browning. It can be stored in the fridge for 5 days. 

    Freezer - Freeze it in an ice cube tray, then transfer frozen pesto cubes into a freezer bag before storing. It can be frozen for 3-6 months. When ready to enjoy, let frozen pesto cubes thaw completely and give it a quick stir before using. 

    Thai basil pesto pasta served with fork with pesto, chili flakes, and chopped peanut beside.

    🍝How to serve

    • Pasta/noodles - Use it to top cooked pasta of choice. I also love using it as a sauce for Asian noodles like soba, rice noodles, or wheat noodles. 
    • Dressing for salads - Thin Thai basil pesto with more lime juice, soy sauce, and water before drizzling on chopped salad greens of choice. You could also use it to dress up this high-protein pasta salad. 
    • As a spread - This condiment works well as a spread for sandwiches, toasts, and wraps. It also works great as a healthier pizza topping. 
    • Dip - I love using it as a dip for raw veggies, crackers, or even this air-fryer potato slices. Optionally, you could combine Thai basil pesto with some vegan mayo or yogurt to make a creamier dip. 
    • Use it as a condiment - Level up your dishes by stirring in a generous dollop of it into curry tofu scramble, mashed potatoes, or on top of roasted vegetables. 

    ❔Commonly asked questions

    How do I prevent my pesto from turning brown?

    The easiest method is to top your pesto with a thin layer of oil before refrigerating. Or, you could blanch your basil leaves before using them. 

    What is the difference between Thai basil and holy basil?

    Thai basil has a sweeter undertone and has a flavor that can be described as a combination of licorice and anise. On the other hand, holy basil is much more spicy and peppery in taste. 
    As for their appearance, Thai basil has dark purple stems with narrower leaves, while the branches of holy basil are usually green, and their leaves or generally broader.

    A jar of pesto with spoon with bowl of pasta, basil leaves, and chopped peanuts in the background.

    🍽More vegan condiments and dressings

    • Spicy Vegan Sriracha Mayonnaise (super easy!)
    • Smoked Paprika Hummus (Vegan)
    • Creamy Tofu Ricotta
    • Vegan Teriyaki Sauce

    If you did make this recipe, do leave a rating and comment down below, we love hearing from you! Subscribe to My Plantiful Cooking to get new recipes delivered straight to your inbox! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get the latest updates. 😉

    📖 Recipe

    Spooning out some Thai basil pesto from a jar with pasta, chopped peanuts, and basil leaves beside.

    Quick and Easy Thai Basil Pesto

    Meesha
    This flavorful & fresh Thai basil pesto is a great condiment to have on hand. Easy to make & happens to be vegan too !
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Condiment
    Cuisine Thai
    Servings 8 2 tablespoon servings
    Calories 55 kcal

    Equipment

    • food processor

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 cups Thai basil *
    • ¼ cup roasted peanuts unsalted**
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari/shoyu (use gluten-free ones if needed)
    • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
    • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon lime juice
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup ( or other liquid sweetener of choice )
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Simply place all ingredients into a food processor and pulse until smooth, or until desired texture is achieved. You might need to stop the food processor and scrap down the sides halfway through, adding water to thin, if needed.
    • Give it a taste, adding salt to season, if needed. Serve immedietely, or store it in a glass jar for later use.

    Notes

    *Thai basil - You can find them in some groceries or your local Asian market. Substitute it with regular sweet basil if you can’t find any! 
    **Peanuts - Can be substituted with almonds or pine nuts. 
     
    Helpful tips 
    • Make this recipe nut-free by using sunflower seeds in place of peanuts. 
    • I recommend adding a generous pinch of chili flakes to your Thai basil pesto if you love spice. 
     
    Storing -Transfer pesto into a sealed glass jar or container. Optionally, top it with a thin layer of oil to prevent browning. It can be stored in the fridge for 5 days. 
    This Thai basil pesto is freezable too! Freeze it in an ice cube tray, then transfer frozen pesto cubes into a freezer bag before storing. It can be frozen for 3-6 months. When ready to enjoy, let frozen pesto cubes thaw completely and give it a quick stir before using. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 55kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 146mgPotassium: 75mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 318IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg

    Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.

    Did you make this recipe ?Tag @myplantifulcooking on Instagram !

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Becky

      July 31, 2022 at 8:27 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! Loved this. Used a fresh hot pepper instead of dried. Used fish sauce instead of soy. Loved the balanced amount of ingredients in the recipe. Outstanding on ramen noodles!

      Reply
      • Meesha

        August 01, 2022 at 9:34 am

        Super glad you like it!😊

        Reply
    2. Tahani S.

      July 24, 2022 at 2:24 am

      5 stars
      Delicious; thanks for the recipe. Very slightly sweet and super zingy.

      Reply
      • Meesha

        July 25, 2022 at 8:35 am

        Glad to hear that! 😁

        Reply
    3. Lisa

      March 15, 2022 at 1:36 pm

      5 stars
      Substituted cashews because that was what I had on-hand, and added a little kick from an Asian chili sauce. This stuff is amazing on a variety of Asian noodles.

      Reply
      • Meesha

        March 16, 2022 at 6:49 pm

        Glad to hear that!

        Reply

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