Description
This Easy Basil Pesto recipe is a quick and flavorful homemade sauce made with fresh basil leaves, toasted pine nuts, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. Perfect for adding a vibrant, aromatic touch to pasta, pizza, sandwiches, burgers, and vegetables, this pesto can be prepared in just 5 minutes using a food processor and stored easily for later use.
Ingredients
For the Basil Pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts or nuts of choice
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Pinch fresh black pepper
- 1/3 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a food processor, add the fresh basil leaves, toasted pine nuts, freshly grated parmesan cheese, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and a pinch of black pepper.
- Pulse to Roughly Chop: Pulse the ingredients just until the basil is roughly chopped and everything is evenly combined. Avoid pureeing completely to maintain texture.
- Drizzle in Olive Oil: Gradually pour in the olive oil while pulsing, incorporating it until the mixture is finely chopped and cohesive, with an even consistency.
- Taste and Adjust Seasoning: Sample the pesto and add more lemon juice, salt, or pepper as desired to balance the flavors.
- Serve & Store: Use the pesto immediately on your favorite dishes such as pasta, pizza, sandwiches, burgers, vegetables, or potatoes. Alternatively, store it in an airtight container topped with a thin layer of olive oil in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Stir well before use if separation occurs.
Notes
- To freeze pesto, transfer it into an ice cube tray and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag for longer storage.
- You can substitute pine nuts with walnuts or almonds if preferred or for a different flavor.
- For a nut-free version, omit nuts and increase parmesan slightly or add sunflower seeds as an alternative.
- Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
- Allow pesto to come to room temperature before serving for optimal taste and texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
