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Lemon Basil Sauce (No Dairy)

Are you looking for a dairy free basil sauce to make for your family? Well move over homemade pesto and try my Lemon Basil Sauce Recipe instead!

The recipe is inspired by the Zucchini Dressing Base Recipe from the cookbook Whole Food Cooking Every Day by Amy Chaplin. I obsess over her clean and dairy free sauces for my meal preps.

The sauce uses simple ingredients and only takes a couple of minutes to make.

lemon basil sauce
Lemon Basil Sauce (No Dairy).

Original Post: February 2023 | Updated Post: November 2023.

Why this is the perfect recipe for your favorite pasta

Lemon Basil Sauce is great as a pasta sauce or how you normally use pesto sauce on pasta. There is no need for parmesan cheese or pine nuts as this is dairy free and gluten free. It’s a BEAUTIFUL green color. You don’t need much basil , maybe a 1/2 cup give or take. Adding more basil or other herbs into the mix is a personal preference.

It’s a very fresh and flavorful sauce. It’s great to use as a dressing in the summer months if you are making salads because it’s light.

These ingredients are available at a grocery store or a farmers market.

Pasta is not the only dish this vibrant sauce can go on, It’s great as a light dipping sauce for your crusty bread or on top of crispy potatoes, chicken and it can give some pizazz to fresh mozzarella.

Did I mention this is toddler approved!? Basically this is the bomb!

Try this sauce with my Simple Baked Salmon with Lemon and Dill or my 5 Ingredient Penne Pasta!

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fresh zucchini, basil and a lemon in a bowl

The key ingredients in this Lemon Basil Sauce recipe are:

  • zucchini
  • extra-virgin olive oil
  • fine sea salt
  • fresh lemon juice
  • fresh basil leaves
lemon basil sauce

How to make

  1. Place the zucchini, basil, olive oil, salt and lemon juice into the blender and blend until well combined and smooth. 
  2. Using a spatula, scrape down the sides if needed.
  3. Pour into an airtight glass container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  4. Shake well before using.

Other suggestions or alternatives

The original recipe has lime juice. You can use lime juice as well. It’s interchangable and just as delicious if you don’t have lemons on hand.

In addition, you can play around with fresh herbs if you like such as green onions, fresh garlic cloves, Italian parsley, and cilantro. I like to make this with what I have on hand.

If you don’t have fine sea salt, you can also use kosher salt. Just make sure to add lightly since kosher salt is more strong.

lemon basil sauce recipe

Helpful tips on making this Lemon Basil Sauce Recipe and what to expect

I like to make this recipe(or variations of it) often. Here are a couple of tips for your first time making this to experience the best flavor.

  • A high powered immersion blender or a NutriBullet is recommended. I have used a food processor but I feel the sauce has a better consistency when I use my NutriBullet.
  • Basil sauce is best when made the night before. As a result, it will thicken the next day.
  • Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • When using this sauce for drizzling on meats or tossing in pasta, you don’t have to warm it. I like to toss it with the pasta as soon as the pasta is done or I drizzle on other foods after the food is warmed.
  • Small to medium sized lemon is the perfect amount of lemony for this simple recipe.
  • The best olive oil for this recipe is extra virgin.
  • Use a decent sized zucchini- medium or large works.
  • Ingredients in this recipe make about 1 cup. If you want to make a bigger batch, you can freeze the extra sauce in ice cube trays.

Why I created this recipe Lemon Basil Sauce Recipe

I am on a mission this year to work more vegetables into my meals AND to give my family more as well. When I came across the book Whole Foods Cooking Every Day, I’m like OMG – dairy free sauces that are amazing and easy to make?!

Also, I love zucchini and have it on hand pretty much every week, so I feel like me and this book of healthy recipes are meant to be.

My favorite way to enjoy this is to toss it in hot gluten free brown rice pasta or on top of boiled shredded garlic chicken breast and brown jasmine rice.

lemon basil sauce recipe

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lemon basil sauce recipe

Lemon Basil Sauce (No Dairy)

Kristina Cadelina
A fresh and vibrant dairy-free Lemon Basil Sauce perfect pasta, dipping or to used as a salad dressing.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cup
Calories 414 kcal

Equipment

  • high powered blender or a NutriBullet
  • glass jar or airtight container

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup fresh basil rinsed well
  • 1 medium zucchini rinsed and chopped into 4 pieces
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
  • 1 medium lemon juice juice of 1 lemon
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Place the zucchini, basil, olive oil, salt and lemon juice into the blender and blend until well combined and smooth.
  • Using a spatula, scrape down the sides if needed.
  • Pour into an airtight glass container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Shake well before using.

Notes

    • A high powered immersion blender or a NutriBullet is recommended. I have used a food processor but I feel the sauce has a better consistency when made in the NutriBullet.
    • Basil sauce is best when made the night before. As a result, it will thicken the next day.
    • Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    • When using this sauce for drizzling on meats or tossing in pasta, you don’t have to warm it. I like to toss it with the pasta as soon as the pasta is done or I drizzle on other foods after the food is warmed.
    • Small to medium sized lemon is the perfect amount of lemony for this simple recipe.
    • Use a decent sized zucchini- medium or large works.

Nutrition

Calories: 414kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 3gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 31gSodium: 1180mgPotassium: 579mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1027IUVitamin C: 49mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Dairy Free Basil Sauce, Lemon Basil Sauce
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