It's so easy to make your own pesto sauce at home and it only takes 5 minutes! This basil pesto recipe is full of flavor and perfect to stir into pasta or spread onto fish, meats and sandwiches.
Add the basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and salt to a food processor.
Process everything until smooth, stopping as necessary to scrape down the sides of the bowl, about 1 minute. Stir in the Parmesan and season with salt and pepper to taste.
NOTES
Pine nuts are a traditional ingredient in basil pesto, but you can also use walnuts, almonds, or pistachios if you have those to hand. You can also make it nut-free by omitting or substituting the pinenuts.
Use fresh garlic cloves rather than jarred for the best flavor.
Pulse the pesto, don't blend it. The coarse texture of the pesto clings better to pasta, chicken, or fish.
Stream in the oil using a steady pulse to keep the sauce together so the oil doesn't separate.
Keep the pesto refrigerated once you have made it.
You can also freeze it and add it to pasta, chicken, or fish for a quick & flavorful meal.
NUTRITION
Nutrition Facts
Pesto Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 165Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Cholesterol 3mg1%
Sodium 262mg11%
Potassium 71mg2%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 567IU11%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 68mg7%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.