Description
Delightful homemade pesto recipe combines fresh basil, pine nuts, and parmesan for a classic Italian sauce. Garlic and olive oil blend seamlessly, creating a rich, aromatic condiment you can enjoy on pasta, sandwiches, or as a dip.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) fresh basil leaves, packed
- ⅓ cup (40 g) pine nuts or walnuts
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 garlic cloves
- ½ cups (120 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon (1.5 g) salt, or to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon (0.75 g) black pepper
Instructions
- Toasting Nuts: Warm a skillet over medium heat, gently swirling pine nuts until they transform into a golden-brown, fragrant delicacy. Transfer the toasted nuts to a cool surface to stabilize.
- Blending Base: Combine basil leaves, toasted pine nuts, garlic cloves, and Parmesan cheese in a food processor. Pulse the ingredients to create a rustic, textured green mixture with nutty undertones.
- Emulsifying Sauce: Gradually stream extra-virgin olive oil into the processor while running, allowing the mechanism to transform the ingredients into a silky, smooth pesto sauce. Season with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, pulsing briefly to integrate the final flavor profile.
- Storing Pesto: Transfer the freshly crafted pesto to a clean container. Protect the surface with a thin layer of olive oil to prevent oxidation and maintain the vibrant green color. Refrigerate for up to one week or freeze for three months, ensuring a versatile culinary companion ready to enhance any dish.
Notes
- Optimize Toasting Technique: Gently roast pine nuts over medium heat, constantly moving them to prevent burning, ensuring an even golden color and rich, nutty flavor without bitterness.
- Preserve Basil’s Brightness: Use fresh, dry basil leaves immediately after washing to maintain vibrant green color and prevent wilting, which can dull the pesto’s visual appeal and taste.
- Balance Garlic Intensity: Adjust garlic quantity based on personal preference; start with less, as raw garlic can overpower delicate basil, allowing a harmonious blend of flavors.
- Storage Strategy: Use airtight glass containers when storing pesto, creating an olive oil protective layer to prevent discoloration and maintain freshness, extending refrigerator life up to one week or freezer storage for three months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 223
- Sugar: 0.2 g
- Sodium: 76 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg