I love pesto and my son loves fresh basil but is allergic to ground nuts and peanuts. Is there a way to make pesto without nuts?

I love just putting fresh basil, a bit of olive oil and garlic in a food processor and using that as "Pesto"

As already mentioned, just leave the nuts out! It will be just as delicious, though the consistency will be slightly different than what you're used to in a traditional pesto. If you want to thicken it up you could add some cheese, or not ...

Pine "nuts" are really seeds. Are you sure he's allergic to them?
Pine nuts are traditional in pesto.

I always make pesto without nuts. The basil and the olive oil and the parmesan cheese are quite sufficient.

Use pumpkin seeds instead of nuts. More flavor if you toast them first.

Soy nuts (roasted soybeans) might also work as a substitute, although I don't know if they would immediately get mushy after being blended into a pesto.

The French call it "Pistou," and do it without nuts at all. Delicious!

just opting out of replies

A traditional Pistou sauce from southern France, next door to Liguria (home of Pesto) is essentially pesto minus the pine nuts, and usually the cheese (like Patricia Wells') - though I've had it with cheese as well. It's delicious. I don't think you need to sub anything.

Just leave the nuts out. I make Patricia Well's Light Basil Sauce which is basil, garlic, olive oil and salt. It's delicious and I don't even miss the nuts.

My boyfriend has a peanut and tree nut allergy and I just leave the nuts out. I think the pesto is just as good sans nuts!

You can just leave them out, but did you know they are actually a seed and not a tree nut? Obviously check with your own sources, but many people allergic to nuts are not affected by seeds.

You can try using toasted bread crumbs. I also use pumpkin seeds, but you will want to find out more about pumpkin and or sunflower seeds as an non-allergen alternative to nuts.