8 Plant-Based Pesto Salads

Pesto sauce goes well with a variety of foods, from pizza to pasta and even on sandwiches. But pesto often gets overlooked when it comes to salads. This is a mistake, however, as this herby and rich sauce is a great addition to leafy greens and fresh vegetables. So if you’re looking to add a healthy and delicious twist to your salads this week, then this is the list for you!

1. Roasted Potato Pesto Salad with Spicy Chipotle Chickpeas

Source: Roasted Potato Pesto Salad with Spicy Chipotle Chickpeas

This Roasted Potato Pesto Salad with Spicy Chipotle Chickpeas by Caroline Doucet is a delicious and comforting vegan salad that’s packed with flavor! Serve it warm or cold.

2. Pesto Couscous and Chickpea Salad

Source: Pesto Couscous and Chickpea Salad

This Pesto Couscous and Chickpea Salad by Dominique Ebra makes a deliciously balanced meal!

3. Shaved Asparagus Salad with Pesto

Source: Shaved Asparagus Salad with Pesto

This Shaved Asparagus Salad with Pesto by Maggie Wescott is a delightful and elegant dish.  Packed full of fresh basil, radishes, asparagus, and lemon, this salad screams summertime. Bring this salad to your next gathering and be the star of the show!

4. Lemony Mint Pesto Potato Salad

Source: Lemony Mint Pesto Potato Salad 

This scrumptious and refreshing potato salad is full of wonderful flavors. Lemon, mint, garlic, pistachio, and more combine to create a combination that you won’t forget! You’ll want to make this Lemony Mint Pesto Potato Salad by Jackie Newgent again and again.

5. Fancy Pesto Potato Salad

Source: Fancy Pesto Potato Salad

For the BBQ-lover with a refined taste – this Fancy Pesto Potato Salad by Anarki “AJ” Tjon Affo is a classy take on a traditional potato salad. The recipe combines two of our favorite things, pesto, and potatoes, into a ballet of flavors that is impressive and surprisingly simple. This recipe is super hearty, makes a large batch, and is pretty easy on the wallet as well.

6. Roasted Carrot Salad With Charred Scallion Cilantro Pesto

Source: Roasted Carrot Salad With Charred Scallion Cilantro Pesto

The roasted sweet carrots and caramelized red onions paired with crunchy sweet corn in this seasonal veggie salad are phenomenal. Corn kernels function as a healthier, cheaper substitute for the sweetness of dried fruits and the crunchiness of the nuts in salads. The charred scallion cilantro pesto is a sweet and vinegary sauce that is most commonly served with fresh seafood, but we think it tastes oh-so-much better on this Roasted Carrot Salad With Charred Scallion Cilantro Pesto by Zoe and Mia Lau.

7. 3-Step Spinach Pesto Pasta Salad

Source: 3-Step Spinach Pesto Pasta Salad

Busy day? Need to whip up something quick for dinner? This 3-Step Spinach Pesto Pasta Salad by Gabrielle St. Claire is the answer to all your troubles! Spinach, pine nuts, marinated sun-dried tomatoes, and cheese vegan Parmesan are blended up into the perfect pesto for tossing with your favorite pasta — so even if you’re gluten-free or grain-free, this pasta can rescue dinner.

8. Sage and Almond Pesto Roasted Potato Salad

Source: Sage and Almond Pesto Roasted Potato Salad

This Sage and Almond Pesto Roasted Potato Salad by Tori Cooper is great served cold like a typical potato salad but serving it hot is perfect during the fall and winter seasons when you’re wanting a cozier touch. Roasted potatoes are lovingly coated in a sage and almond pesto. Get warm and cozy with this recipe!

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