Best 8 Basic Pesto Sauce Recipes
Pesto sauce is a vibrant, versatile condiment that can elevate the flavor of countless dishes. Its origins can be traced back to the region of Liguria in Italy, where it is traditionally made with fresh basil, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. While classic pesto remains a beloved staple, countless variations have emerged over time, each offering unique twists on the original. Whether you prefer a traditional recipe or are looking to experiment with different ingredients, finding the best pesto sauce recipe for your taste and needs is easy with a little research and experimentation.
Let's cook with our recipes!
BASIC PESTO
Pesto is a mouthful of bright summer - basil made more so. You can buy it in a jar or in the refrigerator section of your grocery story, but there is nothing better than making it yourself. Fresh basil can be found in abundance at farmers' markets in the summer. Just clean, take the stems off and throw the leaves in a food processor with nuts and garlic. Dribble in the oil and you've got a versatile sauce for pasta, chicken or fish.
Provided by Florence Fabricant
Categories easy, quick, condiments, editors' pick
Time 15m
Yield 2 cups
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Combine basil leaves, pine nuts or walnuts and garlic in a food processor and process until very finely minced.
- With the machine running slowly dribble in the oil and process until the mixture is smooth.
- Add the cheese and process very briefly, just long enough to combine. Store in refrigerator or freezer.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 82, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 1 gram, Fat 8 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 49 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams
QUICK & SIMPLE PESTO (CLASSIC PESTO RECIPE) SAUCE
This is a pretty easy recipe for a classic pesto sauce. It can be served with pasta for "Pasta & Pesto" or spread on toasted Italian bread or on sandwiches and salads... You can blend it into bread or muffin mix. You can make Pesto Pizza. You can even add heavy cream if you desire a "creamy pesto sauce". The key is to use only FRESH BASIL. Note: Pine nuts are AKA Pignoli Nuts
Provided by BlondieItaliana
Categories Spreads
Time 10m
Yield 1 1/4 cups
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Combine all ingredients in blender or food processor & cover.
- Blend on medium speed about 3 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape sides, until smooth.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1628.5, Fat 166.2, SaturatedFat 29.7, Cholesterol 52.8, Sodium 927.3, Carbohydrate 12, Fiber 3.4, Sugar 2, Protein 31.6
BASIC PESTO SAUCE
The key to making creamy pesto is to add the ingredients to the food processor in the right order to ensure that the nuts break down to a fine paste before the greens have a chance to turn brown. Use basic basil pesto as a pasta sauce, or thin it out with a little olive oil to drizzle it over steak, chicken, fish, pizza or tomato salad. The mint-pistachio variation is inspired by the chef Travis Lett, of Gjelina in Venice, Calif.
Provided by Samin Nosrat
Categories quick, sauces and gravies, side dish
Time 20m
Yield 1 2/3 cups
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Pulse pine nuts in a food processor until they're completely broken down. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula from time to time. Add olive oil and garlic and pulse until garlic is finely chopped.
- Chop basil very roughly - just run a knife through it once or twice to cut most of the leaves into halves or thirds - then add to food processor. Pulse, stopping every 15 seconds to push the leaves down with a rubber spatula, until basil is entirely worked into the oil. Pulse for another few seconds, and then stop to prevent turning the basil brown.
- Pour pesto base into a bowl and add grated cheese and salt. Stir to combine, then taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Leave the sauce thick to toss with cooked pasta and a little pasta cooking water. To use the pesto as a garnish for grilled or roasted meats, fish and vegetables, thin it out with 2 to 3 more tablespoons olive oil until it's the consistency of a loose paste. To store leftovers, pour a little more olive oil over the pesto to cover. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three days.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 168, UnsaturatedFat 13 grams, Carbohydrate 1 gram, Fat 17 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 88 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams
BASIL PESTO
Keep this basic Basil Pesto recipe from Food Network Kitchen in your arsenal and use it for topping pasta, fish, chicken, pizza and more.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 5m
Yield 1 cup
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.
- If freezing, transfer to an air-tight container and drizzle remaining oil over the top. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and stir in cheese.
PESTO SAUCE
I like to serve this pesto over butter gnocchi with an extra sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Gnocchi are light little potato dumplings, which are available in Italian grocery stores and cook up in mere minutes. The pesto is also delicious tossed with penne pasta or in one of these recipes using pesto. -Sue Jurack, Mequon, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 15m
Yield 1/2 cup.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Place the first five ingredients in a small food processor; pulse until chopped. Continue processing while gradually adding oil in a steady stream. Add cheese; pulse just until blended. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 217 calories, Fat 22g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 5mg cholesterol, Sodium 420mg sodium, Carbohydrate 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.
PESTO SAUCE
Make your own delicious pesto sauce in just 15 minutes
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Condiment, Dinner, Lunch, Snack, Supper
Time 15m
Yield Makes 250ml
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Heat a small frying pan over a low heat. Cook the pine nuts until golden, shaking occasionally. Put into a food processor with the remaining ingredients and process until smooth, then season.
- Pour the pesto into a jar and cover with a little extra oil, then seal and store in the fridge. It will keep in a fridge for up to two weeks.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 105 calories, Fat 11 grams fat, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, Protein 2 grams protein, Sodium 0.06 milligram of sodium
CLASSIC PESTO
Whizz up delicious homemade pesto in under 15 minutes using just five ingredients. This herby Italian-style sauce is great stirred through pasta for a quick meal
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Condiment, Dinner, Lunch, Main course, Pasta
Time 15m
Yield Makes 250ml
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Heat a small frying pan over a low heat. Cook the pine nuts until golden, shaking occasionally. Put into a food processor with the basil, parmesan, olive oil and garlic cloves. Whizz until smooth, then season to taste.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 88 calories, Fat 9 grams fat, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, Fiber 0.1 grams fiber, Protein 1 grams protein, Sodium 0.04 milligram of sodium
EASY PESTO
Use pine nuts or walnuts for this classic pasta sauce.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Quick & Easy Recipes
Time 20m
Yield Makes 1 1/4 cups
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread 1/2 cup pine nuts or walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven until golden and fragrant, tossing occasionally, 5 to 8 minutes. Let cool completely.
- In a food processor, combine toasted nuts, 4 cups loosely packed fresh basil or parsley leaves, 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, and 1 garlic clove; season with salt and pepper. Process until finely chopped. With machine running, pour 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil in a steady stream through the feed tube; process until smooth.
Tips:
- Use fresh basil for the best flavor. If you can't find fresh basil, you can use a combination of parsley and cilantro.
- Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until they are fragrant and golden brown. This will enhance their flavor.
- Use a microplane grater to grate the Parmesan cheese. This will help it distribute evenly throughout the sauce.
- Add a little lemon juice to the sauce to brighten the flavor. You can also add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little bit of heat.
- Use a food processor or blender to make the sauce. This will help it come together quickly and smoothly.
- Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the sauce for up to 3 months.
Conclusion:
Pesto sauce is a versatile and flavorful sauce that can be used in a variety of dishes. It is perfect for pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and salads. It can also be used as a marinade for chicken, fish, and vegetables. With its bright green color and delicious flavor, pesto sauce is sure to add a touch of freshness and flavor to any dish.
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