One of my favorite things to plant in my garden is basil because then I can stockpile it and make this best ever homemade basil pesto recipe. Whether you grow it or you just have a bunch of it leftover after making a recipe, this recipe is out of this world so give it a try.
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Why Make This Basil Pesto Recipe?
I am a Finnish girl who married into a huge Italian family and my palette has forever been changed. I LOVE Italian food, but it has to be true Italian food and not the Americanized version of things. If you’ve never had a pot of sugo simmering on the stove then you don’t know what you’re missing out on. It’s so much more amazing than our version of spaghetti sauce here in the US.
Pesto is no different and deserves a proper recipe that makes it taste amazing and delivers a pop of flavor to your tastebuds. This homemade basil pesto recipe is the BEST pesto recipe I’ve made and I absolutely love using fresh basil out of my garden all summer long to create various basil pesto pasta dishes!
Pesto can be used on a variety of different dishes! Use it in everything from pasta to pizza! Top your sandwich with this basil pesto or add it to your crackers. It’s so versatile! This basil pesto recipe is SO simple to whip up and literally takes minutes to make.
To make this basil pesto recipe you’ll need fresh basil leaves (try growing them in your kitchen window with this DIY coffee mug herb garden!), garlic cloves, pine nuts, Parmesan, black pepper and olive oil. These are all basic ingredients that are easy to keep on hand all summer long!
To make this basil pesto recipe you’ll simply combine all of the ingredients in a food processor (or if you don’t have one you can use a mortar and pestle-this food processor is the one I have had for years and love) and emulsify it. It can be kept in the fridge for up to a week! We use this basil pesto on just about anything and it tastes so amazing!
Print the Basil Pesto Recipe:
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 3 cloves garlic peeled
- 3 tablespoons pine nuts
- 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Kosher salt to taste
- fresh ground pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup olive oil
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In a food processor combine basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Turn food processor on and slowly add in olive oil until mixture is emulsified and creamy.
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Store in an airtight container for up to a week in the fridge. If oil separates from mixture simply stir it to reconstitute it.
Supplies We Used for Basil Pesto Recipe:
OmniWare Porcelain Petite 2.75 Inch Mortar and Pestle
Cuisinart DLC-2009CHBMY Prep 9 9-Cup Food Processor, Brushed StainlessTrader Joe’s Raw Pignolias (Pine Nuts)Kirkland Signature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2L (2QT 3.6 fl. oz)Combino: DriedVremi Olive Oil Dispenser Bottle – 17 Oz Oil Bottle Glass with No Drip Bottle Spout – Oil Pourer Dispensing Bottles for Kitchen – Olive Oil Glass Dispenser to Measure Cooking Vegetable Oil and VinegarIndoor Wall PlanterEasem Silicone Garlic PeelerSujeo Mini Garlic Press with Stainless Steel Blades and Inbuilt Clear Plastic Tray, Green
Pin the Basil Pesto Recipe image below:
I’ve never made pesto before, but it looks like something I’ll need to try!
I feel like I’ve never fully experienced Italian food since I’ve never had pesto!
Oh no, you must fix that as soon as possible!
I know I am so behind the times in that I have never made pesto. I know! Can you believe it? Well, just coming across your post today has me, I am making this in the next couple of weeks!!! I know my husband will appreciate it! I have pinned this and will Tweet it and share it over on FB, I don’t want to lose track of this before I get a chance to try your recipe! I would like to invite you to share it over at the Celebrate Your Story! link party. I hope you have a few minutes to stop by and share it (and a couple other posts if you want some exposure)! Here is the link if you have the time: http://celebrateanddecorate.com/celebrate-story-29/
I have lots of basil right now so guess what I’m going to make! Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday.
This sounds absolutely delicious! We planted basil in the garden this year for the first time ever with the intent of making pesto. I’ve never made it before, and now I have a great-sounding recipe! Are pine nuts hard to find? Thanks so much for sharing! Smiles, Linda at Paper Seedlings
Pinenuts are easy to find. Any grocery store should carry them. Good luck!
We grow basil just FOR pesto! YUM! Thanks for joining us at the Delicious Dishes Recipe Party!
I cannot wait to try this! We just planted a bunch of basil in our garden with the kids and were trying to figure out what to use it for 🙂 This is perfect! I just used pesto for the very first time last month – put it over some chicken and baked, then added sliced mozzarella and tomato slices and baked again = YUM!!! Thanks for sharing how to make my own pesto!! 🙂
Enjoy it.
I have always been afraid to make Pesto sauce, but this recipe takes the fear out of making it and it looks delicious. I need to make this and see how it tastes on my pasta.
I have never made a pesto sauce before and never knew what all was in it. It looks easy enough to make. I will have to try it out some time.
Can this be frozen?
Yes, I don’t see why not. I would freeze it in ice cube trays and pop out however much you need at a time.
I have made pesto in the past but did not like my results. I thought I would give it another try with your recipe. I have so much basil right now I hate to lose it in a cold snap. Thank you. It came out delicious. I was able to also use my own homegrown garlic too. This is a keeper. Thank you again, Sarah.
Oh I’m so thrilled you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks for the feedback!