21 Best Recipes with Pesto
The best way to use up a boatload of fresh basil? Pesto, of course! Here’s our best basil pesto recipe, made the classic Italian way.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 heaping cup (18 tablespoons) 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blended
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup raw unsalted pine nuts, cashews, or walnuts*
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 medium garlic cloves
- 2 cups loosely packed fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup olive oil, plus additional as needed
Instructions
- In a small dry skillet, toast the nuts over medium high heat, stirring constantly, for about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the nuts to a bowl and allow them to cool slightly. (This step is optional, but brings out a more robust flavor in the nuts.)
- In food processor**, combine the nuts, cheese, and peeled garlic. Process until finely ground, 20 to 30 seconds.
- Add the basil, lemon juice and kosher salt. Turn on the food processor and gradually pour in the olive oil. Once combined, turn off the food processor. Blend in a bit more olive oil if desired, to achieve a looser texture. Stores for about 1 week in the refrigerator and several months frozen.
Notes
*Pine nuts are traditional, but can be expensive. Cashews and walnuts also have great flavor and are easier to find. You can use any of these variations!
Find it online: https://www.acouplecooks.com/recipes-with-pesto/
