Description
A vibrant and aromatic Italian sauce made from fresh basil, garlic, toasted pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, blended into a smooth paste. This pesto is perfect for pasta, sandwiches, dips, or as a marinade, bringing a burst of freshness to any dish.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Wash and dry basil leaves thoroughly. Peel garlic cloves.
- Toast pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden brown. Let cool.
- In a food processor, combine basil, garlic, and pine nuts. Pulse until coarsely chopped.
- Add Parmesan cheese, then slowly drizzle in olive oil while blending until smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Use immediately or store properly.
Notes
- For a vegan version, replace Parmesan with nutritional yeast or plant-based cheese.
- Substitute pine nuts with walnuts, almonds, or cashews for variation.
- Store in the refrigerator with a thin layer of olive oil on top to prevent browning.
- Freeze leftovers in ice cube trays for convenient future use.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 240mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
