FRESH BASIL PESTO WITH VARIATIONS
A basic pesto sauce using fresh basil and pine nuts. Traditionally pesto is made by grinding fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil & nuts by hand with a mortar and pestle. While fun to do, it is time consuming, but with modern conveniences we can now cheat a little bit. This recipe uses a food processor but you can also finely chop everything with a good knife or a mezzaluna. See *Note below for a list of optional ingredients and feel free to use and experiment with any combination of herbs and nuts you may have available.
Provided by Tinkerbell
Categories Sauces
Time 10m
Yield 1 cup, 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Fit your food processor with the steel blade attachment. To bowl add basil, garlic, oil, pine nuts, salt and pepper. Pulse several times, scraping bowl if needed, and continue until the mixture is a smooth paste. Add a tiny bit of oil if mixture gets too thick.
- When the consistency is right, transfer to a small bowl and fold in the shredded parmesan cheese.
- To Serve: Stir a few tablespoons of pesto with a splash of cooking water from your favorite pasta and toss with hot pasta until coated. Use as a condiment on grilled panini sandwiches, on toast points for an appetizer, as a pizza sauce, or garnish your fresh soup with a few teaspoons.
- To Store: Cover with a thin layer of olive oil or spray with non-stick cooking oil and keep in the fridge for several weeks. For long-term storage fill ice cube trays with pesto, freeze and then pop out into a resealable plastic bag. Thaw just the right amount of fresh pesto for your meal any time you want it!
- *NOTE: Other aromatic herbs, nuts, oils or hard cheeses can be used in place of or in combination with the basil, pine nuts, extra virgin olive oil and parmesan. Keep in mind the herb is the star of the show and should have the most prominent flavor when mixing and matching ingredients. Also, consider the rest of your meal and what fresh flavors might compliment it best. Have fun experimenting with some of the following!
- Herbs: fresh cilantro, spinach, oregano, sun-dried tomatoes; Italian flat leaf parsley can be used by itself but is also great to use with any of the other herbs when you may be running short on them.
- Nuts: Walnuts, almonds, pecans.
- Flavored Oils: porcini mushroom, walnut, lemon, rosemary, raspberry.
- Cheeses: parmigiano-reggiano, asiago, romano.
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Hillary Mokua
[email protected]I've been making this pesto for years and it's always a hit. It's so easy to make and it tastes delicious. I love the way it pairs with grilled chicken or fish.
Shifty Sweets
[email protected]This pesto is amazing! I love the way it brightens up pasta dishes. It's also great on sandwiches and wraps.
Christal Toth
[email protected]I made this pesto for a party last weekend and it was a huge hit! Everyone loved it. I will definitely be making it again.
AHMED RAIHAN
[email protected]I've tried many pesto recipes before, but this one is by far the best. It's so easy to make and it always turns out perfectly. I love the bright, herbaceous flavor of the basil and the richness of the nuts.
Abigail Dziekpor
[email protected]I'm not a huge fan of pesto, but this recipe changed my mind. It's so flavorful and delicious. I love the way it brightens up pasta dishes.
Rick Harter
[email protected]This pesto is delicious! I love the combination of basil, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese. It's so flavorful and versatile. I've used it on pasta, pizza, and even as a dip for vegetables.
Mohamed Hajjaoui
[email protected]I've made this pesto several times now and it's always a hit. I love the bright, herbaceous flavor of the basil and the richness of the nuts. It's perfect for pasta, pizza, or just spreading on bread.
Nabawanga Mable
[email protected]This pesto is so easy to make and it tastes incredible. I love that it's made with simple, fresh ingredients.
Andy Thorne
[email protected]I was a bit hesitant to try this pesto because I'm not a huge fan of basil, but I'm so glad I did! It's delicious. The flavors are perfectly balanced.
Akinyemi Deborah
[email protected]This pesto is amazing! I've never had anything like it before. It's so flavorful and versatile. I can't wait to try it on different dishes.
Acer Playz
[email protected]I made this pesto for a party last weekend and it was a huge hit! Everyone loved it. I will definitely be making it again.
Fl1xxy
[email protected]This pesto is the best I've ever had! I love the combination of basil, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese. It's so flavorful and delicious.
Alizay Khokhar
[email protected]I love this pesto! It's so easy to make and it always turns out perfectly. I especially love it on grilled chicken or fish.
David Ella
[email protected]This pesto is a game-changer! I've been using it on everything from pasta to sandwiches to salads. It's so versatile and delicious.
noor ishaq
[email protected]I followed the recipe exactly and my pesto turned out great! It was the perfect consistency and flavor. I can't wait to try it on different dishes.
lidice fernandez
[email protected]This pesto is so easy to make and it tastes incredible. I love that it's made with fresh basil, which gives it a really vibrant flavor.
Rk khokon Khan
[email protected]I made this pesto for the first time last night and it was delicious! I used it on pasta and it was so flavorful. I will definitely be making this again.
Anthony Wagner
[email protected]This pesto is amazing! I've made it several times now and it's always a hit. I love the bright, herbaceous flavor of the basil and the richness of the nuts. It's perfect for pasta, pizza, or just spreading on bread.