Description
A simple and classic basil pesto recipe that uses fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. Perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or as a dip.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- 1/3 cup pine nuts
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine basil, pine nuts, and garlic in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped.
- Add Parmesan cheese and pulse briefly to combine.
- With the processor running, slowly pour in olive oil until smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper. Adjust to taste.
- Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
- For a nut-free version, replace pine nuts with sunflower seeds.
- Freeze pesto in ice cube trays for longer storage.
- Stir well before using if the oil separates.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 3mg
Keywords: basil pesto, homemade pesto, easy pesto recipe, Italian sauce