Homemade Basil Pesto Recipe
A vibrant and flavorful basil pesto recipe featuring toasted pine nuts, fresh basil, garlic, parmesan cheese, and lemon zest, blended into a smooth and aromatic sauce perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or as a dip.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 1 1/4 cups 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 4 ounces pine nuts
- 4 cups fresh basil
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 cup coarsely grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1 cup olive oil
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Toast Pine Nuts: Add the pine nuts to a small skillet over medium heat and toast them until they are golden brown and fragrant, approximately 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
- First Blend: In the bowl of a food processor, combine half of the toasted pine nuts, 3 cups of fresh basil, 2 garlic cloves, half of the parmesan cheese, and the lemon zest. Process for about 30 seconds or until the ingredients are finely chopped.
- Add Olive Oil: While the food processor is running on low speed, slowly drizzle in 3/4 cup of olive oil. Continue processing until a smooth paste forms. Stop the processor and scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even blending.
- Pulse Remaining Ingredients: Add the remaining pine nuts, 1 cup basil, 1 garlic clove, and the rest of the parmesan cheese to the food processor bowl. Pulse the ingredients several times until they are finely chopped and evenly incorporated.
- Combine and Season: Transfer the pesto sauce to a bowl using a rubber spatula. Stir in the remaining olive oil to loosen the consistency. Taste and season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper according to your preference.
- Store Properly: Place the basil pesto sauce in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep well for up to 5 days, maintaining its freshness and flavor.
Notes
- Toast pine nuts carefully as they can burn quickly; stir frequently for even toasting.
- For a nuttier flavor, consider substituting or mixing pine nuts with walnuts or almonds.
- If you want a thinner pesto, add more olive oil incrementally.
- Pesto can be frozen in ice cube trays for longer storage and used as needed.
- Feel free to adjust the garlic amount based on your taste preferences.
Keywords: basil pesto, pesto sauce, Italian sauce, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan, homemade pesto, fresh basil
Find it online: https://kitchenbyrita.com/homemade-basil-pesto-recipe/
