Basil Pesto recipe

Elevate any dish with this homemade Basil Pesto recipe! It’s loaded with a ton of fresh basil, olive oil, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and garlic for a punch of fresh flavor. Perfect for topping pasta, bread, salad, or anything else you like. 

If you’re a basil lover like me, try this Tomato Basil Pasta, Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Breasts, and Caprese Chicken and Potatoes!

Basil Pesto is an Italian condiment made with fresh herbs and packed with nutty flavor used for pasta recipes, as a sandwich spread, or even to top chicken or steak! 

Although it might seem a bit gourmet, it’s actually super easy to make from scratch and tastes so much better than store-bought pesto. 

This recipe comes together in 5 minutes and can even be frozen for later if you don’t use it all.

Why we love this Basil Pesto:

• Quick: This recipe comes together in just 5 minutes!
• Fresh: Fresh basil, garlic, and parmesan cheese add so much flavor that rivals anything you’ll find at grocery stores.
• Freezer-friendly: You can freeze any extra for later to use in your favorite recipes. 

Homemade Pesto recipe Ingredients:

• Olive oil: Extra-virgin olive oil will give you the best flavor, but any kind of cooking oil will work, too.
• Fresh basil leaves: Use large, fresh basil leaves. You will need around 2 cups of basil, so make sure to get plenty!
• Parmesan cheese: Adds a salty, savory kick. Freshly grated is best.
• Pine nuts: Classic for pesto, but almonds or walnuts work too.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves add a bold, aromatic punch.

How to make the best Basil Pesto recipe:

If you have 5 minutes, you can easily make this classic Basil Pesto recipe! Make sure to check out the recipe card for the full list of recipe instructions.

• Add the olive oil, basil, Parmesan, nuts, and garlic to a blender or food processor.
• Blend until everything is smooth and creamy.

Variations and Substitutions

• Toast: Toast the pine nuts for a depth of flavor.
• Swap the cheese: Use pecorino Romano for a more intense flavor.
• Make it nut-free: Swap the pine nuts for sunflower seeds instead!
• Add freshness: Add a splash of lemon juice for a bit of brightness. 
• Kick of heat: Sprinkle some red pepper flakes for a bit of heat. 

How do I keep Pesto from turning brown?

Pesto can darken due to oxidation, but you can keep it vibrant by adding a thin layer of olive oil on top before storing it in the fridge.

Another trick is to blanch the basil leaves for a few seconds in boiling water, then quickly cool them in ice water before blending.

Ways to use this Basil Pesto recipe:

• Pizza: Spread on top of Pizza Toast or Flatbread Pizza as a base for your favorite toppings!
• Grilled cheese: Spread it on a grilled cheese before adding the cheese for a fresh flavor.
• Bread: Use it as a dipping sauce or spread it over some No Knead Artisan Bread or Garlic Bread!
• Pasta: Use it to make this Pesto Pasta recipe or Chicken Pesto Pasta.
• Chicken: Use it to make the pesto balsamic sauce in this Chicken Caprese Skillet!
• Steak: Add a dollop on top of this Air Fryer Steak for another layer of flavor. 

More condiments and sauces you’ll love:

• Garlic Butter
• Roasted Tomato Sauce
• Easy Alfredo Sauce
• Bechamel Sauce

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Basil Pesto Recipe

written by Ashley Fehr

Elevate any dish with this homemade Basil Pesto recipe! It's loaded with a ton of fresh basil, olive oil, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and garlic for a punch of fresh flavor. Perfect for topping pasta, bread, salad, or anything else you like. 

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Course: Sauces and Condiments

Cuisine: American

Servings: 16 servings

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ ½ cup olive oil
• ▢ 2 cups lightly packed basil leaves, (about 40 grams)
• ▢ ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• ▢ 3 tablespoons pine nuts, (almonds or walnuts)
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic
• ▢ salt and pepper to taste

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions 

• Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor beginning with the oil.
• Process until smooth, adding more oil and scraping down the sides as necessary.
• Taste and add salt and pepper as desired.

Video

Notes

Ingredients and Substitutions:

While the ingredients I chose here are the classics, there are lots of ways you can change it up!

Oil: you can use any oil here that is liquid at room temperature. 

Basil: feel free to add in other herbs, or swap it out for parsley, cilantro, mint, etc.

Parmesan: you can swap this out for another hard cheese, or omit for a dairy free recipe.

Pine Nuts: pint nuts are traditional but expensive. You can swap this out for almonds or walnuts if you prefer.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 86cal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Sodium: 50mg, Potassium: 24mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 0.1g, Vitamin A: 183IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 43mg, Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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