Fresh Basil Pesto
A vibrant and simple basil pesto recipe perfect for pasta, sandwiches, and dips. This recipe uses a food processor for ease and results in a bright, flavorful sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: 1.5 cups 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine basil leaves, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and garlic in a food processor.
- Pulse until ingredients are finely chopped.
- With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the pesto is smooth and emulsified.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- For a different flavor, you can substitute walnuts or almonds for pine nuts.
- If you don’t have a food processor, you can make pesto using a mortar and pestle, though it will take more time and effort.
- This pesto freezes well. Spoon into ice cube trays for single-serving portions, then transfer frozen cubes to a freezer bag.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Find it online: https://delicerecipe.com/basil-pesto-recipe/