Description
Fragrant basil pesto blends Italian culinary magic with garden-fresh ingredients, creating a verdant sauce that whispers Mediterranean charm. Green herb magic mingles olive oil, pine nuts, and parmesan into a silky, aromatic celebration you’ll want to drizzle over everything.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 cup pine nuts (toasted)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 garlic cloves
Seasoning:
- Salt and pepper to taste
Liquid Ingredient:
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Carefully select fresh, vibrant basil leaves, ensuring they are free from blemishes and have a bright green color.
- Heat a small skillet over medium flame, gently toasting pine nuts until they develop a rich, golden-brown hue and release a nutty aroma (approximately 3-5 minutes), stirring frequently to prevent burning.
- Transfer toasted pine nuts to a food processor, adding peeled garlic cloves, fragrant basil leaves, and finely grated Parmesan cheese.
- Pulse the ingredients until they form a coarse, textured mixture, scraping down the sides of the processor to ensure even chopping.
- With the processor running at low speed, slowly drizzle extra-virgin olive oil in a steady stream, creating a smooth, cohesive sauce.
- Taste the pesto and delicately season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to your preferred flavor profile.
- For optimal flavor and texture, serve immediately as a versatile sauce for pasta, a spread for sandwiches, or a zesty dip for fresh vegetables.
Notes
- Toast pine nuts carefully to prevent burning, watching them closely as they can quickly go from golden to charred.
- Swap traditional pine nuts with more affordable alternatives like walnuts or almonds for budget-friendly variations.
- Use fresh basil leaves at peak ripeness to maximize the vibrant, aromatic flavor of the pesto.
- Store excess pesto in an airtight container with a thin layer of olive oil on top to prevent discoloration and maintain freshness for up to a week in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg