Traditional Basil Pesto
A vibrant and flavorful basil pesto that elevates any dish with its fresh ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 3 cloves garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash the fresh basil leaves thoroughly and pat dry.
- Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
- Add toasted pine nuts and raw garlic cloves to a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.
- Throw in the fresh basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese, pulsing until slightly chunky.
- Drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while the processor is running until fully combined.
- Season the pesto with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the pesto to a clean jar or airtight container and store in the fridge.
Notes
To keep pesto fresh, pour a thin layer of olive oil on the surface before sealing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: pesto, basil pesto, Italian sauce, vegetarian sauce, homemade pesto