This vegan pesto and tomato bruschetta is deceptively easy to make. A delicious recipe perfect for a vegan brunch.
The verdant green of the basil leaves entwined among the ruddy tomatoes and iridescent purplish onions make this brunch a feast for the eyes. The tangy ripened tomatoes and balsamic vinegar can’t help but make you think of summer. It may be winter but we can’t live off stodge for the next 3 months!
I’ve used roasted cashews for the basil; they are often easier to find than pine nuts, and when roasted they develop a deeply intense flavour. Add a generous amount of nutritional yeast to achieve that complex cheesiness that all good pesto has. I find raw garlic can often overwhelm pesto, even if used in small quantities. If time permits, roast the garlic until buttery soft; it adds a earthy yet sweet caramelised flavour to the pesto.
This recipe for vegan pesto and tomato bruschetta is full of fresh tasting ingredients. Ready in under 30 minutes, it makes a delicious brunch that is sure to satisfy both meat eaters and vegans alike.
Leave a comment and let me know how you get on making this vegan pesto and tomato bruschetta. I’d love to see your creations over on instagram!
More brunch recipes
Vegan pesto and tomato bruschetta
Ingredients
For the tomato bruschetta
- 5 tomatoes on the vine
- 1/4 red onion diced
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 large garlic clove minced
- 4 basil leaves finely chopped
- Salt and pepper
- Half a loaf of crusty white bread such as sourdough or ciabatta
For the pesto
- 30 g plain cashews
- 1 garlic clove
- 15 g fresh basil leaves and stems finely chopped
- 75 mls extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 lemon juiced
- 10 g nutritional yeast
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- To roast the garlic, remove the outer papery skin from the bulb. Leave the skin on the garlic clove. Slice off one end of the garlic. Rub olive oil on the exposed end and wrap in foil. Place on a baking tray and roast for 20 mins at 200°C / 180°C fan / gas 6.
- Place the cashews on a baking tray and roast at 200°C / 180°C fan / gas 6 until a dark golden brown, approximately 7 minutes.
- Make a start on preparing the tomato mixture. Remove the stems from the tomatoes. Dice the tomatoes and then place in a colander and drain well.
- Add the tomatoes to a bowl along with the remaining ingredients. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Remove the garlic from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes. Then carefully peel the skin from the garlic. Scrape out the buttery garlic and add to a food processor along with the roasted cashews, fresh basil leaves, olive oil, lemon and nutritional yeast. Season generously with salt and pepper. Blend well, scraping the sides of the blender as necessary.
- Serve the pesto on warm toasted bread, spoon on the tomatoes and garnish with fresh basil leaves.