Basil Pesto. One of the most classic sauces known to Italian-food-eating peeps around the world. Not only is this one of the most simple things to make, but it is exceptionally versatile. Use it in pastas, as a dipping sauce, or drizzled over a perfectly cooked steak. It’s a win-win for everybody!
Let's get started!
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And, if you're in the market for my Italian-inspired dishes, you've come to the right spot!
Try my Pesto Lasagna, White Chicken Lasagna Soup, or my Buttered Noodles (they're basically a quick and easy alfredo noodle situation and so good!).
What You'll Need And A Word About Simplicity
Basil Peso is as fresh and simple a sauce as you can get. Minimal ingredients, minimal prep, and absolutely amazing. But because it has such a short ingredient list, make sure your getting the best quality you can get.
Fresh Basil Leaves - Pick vibrant green basil leaves that look pretty. You can easily tell is basil is bruised or old. Basil Pesto is the perfect recipe to make when basil is spilling out of your garden in the summer.
Parmesan Cheese - USE A GOOD ONE. Don't you dare use the stuff in a can with green lid for the recipe. That's not even cheese. Buy proper parmesan cheese. Note: You can tell real parm because the rind will be stamped and from Italy.
Pine Nuts - I love them for basil pesto, but you can use just about any nut you prefer!
Lemon - Acid enhances the flavor of food. Adding a little lemon to this basil pesto recipe with take it over the top. It will singgggggggg with just a bit of lemon!
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Again, get a good quality one. You will be able to taste it as the olive oil is a big part of this recipe.
Kosher Salt - My preferred salt for seasoning.
Fresh Ground Pepper - Grind it yourself. Fresh ground pepper has almost a floral essence that is amazing.
Tools You'll Need
You don't need much at all, but a good food processor is key. This is the exact version I have and I wish I would have gotten it sooner. It's also a stand up blender and comes with a couple of smaller blender bottles for small jobs. 98/10 recommend!
Buy Now → How To Do It (It's Sooo Easy)
Let's get going on the one of the world's most delicious, but easiest sauces ever. It's super easy. I'm gonna give you a very brief idea of what needs to happen here, but the specifics will live down in the recipe card below. All you need to do is:
- Pulse the pine nuts, lemon, salt, and pepper together.
- Add the basil and pulse some more.
- Add olive oil and parmesan cheese, and you guessed it, pulse some more!
- Pulse until you achieved your desired consistency, taste for salt, and enjoy on everything!
Kosher Salt and How To Use It
This seems like a very strange thing for me to talk about, but honestly, most people don't know how to use salt correctly. It's a subjective ingredient, so everyone has a different idea of how much is enough. I know that is my husband did the cooking, he would salt us out of house and home.
I've got a couple of pointers to help you out so that every recipe you make is perfect. Salt enhances the flavor of food, you just need to know a few things so you can make that food the best it can be!
First off, do away with iodized salt. It's an abomination in my opinion. It's bleached, chemical-laden, and bitter. I don't use or or even own any.
Second, use kosher salt to season and flaky sea salt to finish. I also keep Celtic salt and Baja Gold to add to my bone broths for their mineral content.
Third, season in layers. when you add an ingredient, add a pinch. Add another ingredient, add a pinch. And, taste as you go.
So for this Basil Pesto recipe, add a pinch in the first step. Go on to the next step and add some more and so on and so forth. And, at the end, if you feel like you need some more, just add it.
And, remember you can always add it, but you can never take it away!
Tips, Tricks, and How To Use It
- Use fresh basil for Basil pesto. Dried basil won't work here.
- Spoon over soups, spread on sandwich bread, and even mix into your pasta salads!
- Basil pesto is fantastic on steaks, chicken, seafood, and grilled veggies.
- Store in an air-tight container in the fridge.
- Freeze the pesto in ice cube trays to enjoy all year long!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this basil pesto recipe gluten-free?
This pesto recipe is 100% gluten-free! No need to worry about gluten sensitivities with this wonderful sauce!
Can I make this basil pesto recipe dairy-free?
Substitute the parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast to make this recipe dairy-free. You can omit it all together as well.
What do I put basil pesto on?
Everything! Toss it with pasta, combine it with some mayo for a sandwich spread, drizzle it over roasted veggies or grilled steak. Anything you want to freshen up or brighten the flavor of, add some basil pesto. You cannot go wrong!
Recipe
Basil Pesto Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup pine nuts, toasted
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 cups basil leaves, loosely packed
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- ½-2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine the pine nuts, lemon juice, salt, and pepper and pulse until well chopped.
- Add the basil and pulse until combined.
- With the food processor running, drizzle in the olive oil and pulse until combined. Add the Parmesan cheese, and pulse to briefly combine. For a smoother pesto, add more olive oil. You can make it as chunky or smooth as you wish.
Notes
Nutrition
If you guys make this Easy Basil Pesto, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Basil Pesto recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram or Facebook! I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces! And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
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