This fresh basil pesto with pine nuts recipe is easy to make in the food processor. It only takes 5 ingredients and can be used to add flavor to pasta, serve as a pizza topping, or spread on sandwiches.
2tablespoon olive oil cold pressed or cold Extracted
½cupfresh basilwhole leaves
1teaspoon garlicminced
¼cupparmesan cheesegrated
¼cuppine nuts
salt and pepperto taste
Instructions
Place the basil leaves, pine nuts, grated parmesan, minced garlic and 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a blender or food processor, and blend on high until well combined into a pesto sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add an additional tablespoon of olive oil, and blend to combine.
Recipe Notes
Toast the nutsTo give the pesto a slightly toasty flavor, bake the pine nuts in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes or toss them in a hot skillet for a few minutes, then blend the toasted pine nuts.Parmesan cheeseMake sure to buy the block form and grate it yourself for better texture when choosing the Parmesan for better texture, as pre-grated packaged cheese can have a coating on it.Prevent the pesto sauce from browningTo prevent the pesto sauce from browning after a few days in the fridge, stir in half a teaspoon of lemon juice.