Homemade Basil Pesto
Homemade basil pesto is a flavorful and versatile Italian sauce that can be easily made at home. It typically consists of fresh basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil blended together to create a rich and vibrant green sauce. This sauce can be used as a spread on sandwiches, a topping for pasta, and as a dip for vegetables. It is easy to customize with additional ingredients such as sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers for added depth of flavor.
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh basil leaves, removed from stems
- 1/4 cup pine nuts toasted
- 2-3 cloves of garlic
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 1/4 tsp Kosher salt + some on hand to adjust the taste
- 1/8 tsp ground pepper, I like my mixed pepper blend
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil Depending on how thin you would like your sauce, you may need a little more.
Instructions
- Into a food processor place all ingredients except for the oil.
- Pulse ingredients on low until everything is starting to get the proper consistency.
- Now, slowly pour in the olive oil.
- Do a taste test and add a little more salt and pepper if needed.
- Once processed remove from the processor and put into a storage container such as a jar.
- This should keep in the fridge for about a week, but you can also put it in the freezer, and it should be good for months.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!