Vegan Broccoli Rabe & Chive Pesto
A vibrant, earthy, peppery pesto made with lightly blanched broccoli rabe (rapini), fresh chives, basil, garlic, lemon, and toasted nuts. It’s fully vegan — no cheese — but still creamy thanks to olive oil and blended nuts. Perfect for drizzling over roasted vegetables, tossing with pasta, spreading on toast, or mixing into warm grains.
⏱ Time
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook (blanching): 3 minutes
Total: 13 minutes
🥬 Ingredients
1 small bunch broccoli rabe (rapini), tough stems trimmed (about 2 cups packed)
¼ cup fresh chives, chopped
½ cup fresh basil leaves (optional but recommended for balance)
1–2 cloves garlic, chopped
¼ cup toasted walnuts, almonds, or pine nuts
2–3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (adjust to taste)
½ tsp salt, more to taste
¼ tsp black pepper
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Optional: 1–2 tbsp nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor (still vegan)
🍴 Instructions
1. Prep the broccoli rabe
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
Add the broccoli rabe and blanch for 2–3 minutes until bright green and slightly tender.
Drain and immediately rinse under cold water or place in an ice bath.
Squeeze out excess water and roughly chop.
2. Blend the base
Add broccoli rabe, chives, basil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to a food processor.
Pulse several times until roughly chopped.
3. Add nuts
Add toasted nuts and pulse again.
4. Add the olive oil
With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil.
Blend until creamy but still textured.
Taste and adjust:
More lemon for brightness
More salt
More olive oil for a smoother texture
Add nutritional yeast if you want a more “classic pesto” taste
💡 Tips
Balance the bitterness: Broccoli rabe is naturally bitter. Lemon juice and basil help balance it beautifully.
Don’t skip blanching: It softens the bitterness and improves the pesto’s color.
Make it nut-free: Use toasted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.
Add heat (optional): A pinch of red pepper flakes (skip if you prefer non-spicy).
❄️ Storage
Keeps 1 week in the refrigerator
Freeze in portions (ice cube tray) for up to 3 months
Here is the nutritional information for Vegan Broccoli Rabe & Chive Pesto (per 2 tablespoons serving — the standard pesto serving size).
🥗 Nutritional Information
Calories: 115–130 kcal
Carbohydrates: 2.5 g
Total Fat: 11–12 g
Fiber: 1 g
Sugar: 0.3 g
Sodium: 150–200 mg
Calcium ~40 mg