Description
This Best Homemade Basil Pesto recipe is a classic and flavorful sauce that is perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or as a dip. Made with fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, and parmesan cheese, this pesto is easy to whip up and adds a burst of herbaceous goodness to any dish.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pesto:
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup fresh parmesan cheese
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon salt, to taste
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup (118-177ml) olive oil
Instructions
- Toast Pine Nuts: Place pine nuts in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Stir often, cooking for just a few minutes, until they start to brown. Remove from heat and cool.
- Blend Ingredients: Place basil, pine nuts, garlic, and parmesan in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Pulse until a paste forms. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and pulse to combine.
- Add Olive Oil: While running the machine, pour in olive oil, starting with 1/2 cup. Once the pesto emulsifies, it will become a thick sauce. If you want a thinner pesto, add another 1/4 cup olive oil.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 310mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
