Easy Homemade Pesto
Homemade Pesto is one of the easiest, most flavorful sauces you can make, and it blows store-bought out of the water! With just a handful of fresh ingredients and a food processor, you'll have a bright, restaurant-quality basil pesto ready in minutes.
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 205kcal
Cost: 12
Recipe Link
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup Pine Nuts*
- 4 Garlic Cloves
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano
- 2 ½ cups fresh basil leaves (tightly packed)
- Juice from ½ of a small lemon
- ½ to 3/4 cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- Salt and pepper , to taste
Instructions
- Add pine nuts, garlic and parmesan cheese to a food processor and pulse several times. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add basil and pulse until well chopped. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.1/3 cup Pine Nuts*, 4 Garlic Cloves, 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano, 2 ½ cups fresh basil leaves (tightly packed)
- Add lemon juice and then slowly drizzle in the olive oil, as you pulse. Start with ½ cup. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Add more olive oil, until it reaches a soft sauce consistency.Juice from ½ of a small lemon, ½ to 3/4 cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Salt and pepper
- Store immediately in an airtight container, in the fridge, until ready to use. If storing for more than a day, pour a thin layer of olive oil on top of the pesto to help prevent oxidation (turning brown).
Notes
Yield: About 1 ½ cups, 12 servings. Serving Size: 2 Tbsp.
Pine Nuts: If you have time, toast the pine nuts for a few minutes in a skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until golden. You could also use cashews, almonds or walnuts.
Make Ahead Instructions: Make pesto and store in an airtight container, in the fridge, until ready to use. If storing for more than a day, pour a thin layer of olive oil on top of the pesto to help prevent oxidation (turning brown).
Freezing Instructions: Pesto can be frozen in an air-tight freezer safe container (or even ice cube trays, covered) for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 74mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 301IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg
