Fresh Homemade Basil Pesto
A bright and aromatic herb sauce that brings life to any pasta dish or sandwich.
recipesbynani.comThere is nothing quite like the smell of fresh basil leaves being crushed into a beautiful green sauce. This pesto is a staple in my kitchen because it is so much better than anything you can buy in a jar at the grocery store.
You can make this in just a few minutes using a food processor or a mortar and pestle. My best tip is to toast your pine nuts lightly in a dry pan before you begin, as this simple step brings out a wonderful nutty flavor that balances the garlic perfectly.
🧺 Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
👩🍳Instructions
- 1
Place the basil leaves and pine nuts into a food processor and pulse a few times.
- 2
Add the garlic and Parmesan cheese to the mix and pulse again until everything is finely chopped.
- 3
Turn the processor on a low setting and slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture is smooth and combined.
- 4
Taste the pesto and stir in the salt and pepper according to your preference.
- 5
Transfer to a bowl or jar and serve immediately or store for later use.
💡 Tips
Store your leftover pesto in a small jar with a thin layer of olive oil on top to keep it bright green. You can also freeze pesto in ice cube trays for easy portions to add to soups or pasta throughout the week.
Made this recipe? Let us know how it went.
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