Pesto Recipe
Total Time
10 mins
Prep Time
10 mins
Rating
4.93 out of 5 stars
(197)
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, tightly packed*
- 3/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup pine nuts*
- 2 garlic cloves, (large)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice, (juice of 2 small lemons)
- 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
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Preparation
Step 1
Wash and dry the basil leaves – you can use a salad spinner to make this step easier.
Step 2
Place basil into a food processor. Add parmesan cheese, nuts, garlic cloves, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Process until smooth.
Step 3
Season with more salt to taste if desired.
Step 4
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Chef's notes
*Basil:
We used an Italian large-leaf basil (sweet basil) but you can experiment with Thai basil or lemon basil for a different flavor profile.
*Nut substitutions:
Pine nuts are traditional for pesto, but you can substitute them with walnuts or blanched almonds.
*Toast the nuts:
For more flavor, you can toast the nuts over medium heat in a dry skillet, tossing frequently until the nuts are golden and fragrant then cool to room temperature before using.
