Vibrant Homemade Basil Pesto Recipe
This vibrant homemade basil pesto recipe is a fresh and flavorful sauce made with basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic, and olive oil. Perfect for enhancing pasta, sandwiches, or as a dip, this easy-to-make pesto delivers a bright, aromatic taste with a smooth and creamy texture. Including optional lemon juice adds a wonderful brightness to the final flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 1 cup of pesto 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pesto
- ½ cup (118 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups (480 ml) fresh basil leaves, packed
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup (40 g) pine nuts (or walnuts for a budget-friendly option)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice (optional, for brightness)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Pulse Ingredients: Combine fresh basil leaves, grated Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper in a food processor. Pulse the ingredients until they are finely chopped and well blended.
- Emulsify Mixture: With the food processor running, slowly stream in the extra virgin olive oil. Continue processing until the mixture achieves a smooth and velvety texture that evenly binds all components together.
- Refine Flavor Profile: Add a splash of lemon juice to brighten the pesto’s flavor. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasoning as needed to ensure a balanced and vibrant result.
- Preservation & Serving: Transfer the freshly made pesto to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator where it will keep for up to one week. For longer storage, portion the pesto into ice cube trays, freeze, then move the frozen cubes to a sealed freezer bag to enable convenient use later on.
Notes
- Use walnuts instead of pine nuts as a budget-friendly alternative without sacrificing flavor.
- The lemon juice is optional but adds a fresh brightness that lifts the overall taste.
- Refrigerate pesto in a tightly sealed container and ensure a thin layer of olive oil covers the surface to help preserve freshness.
- Frozen pesto cubes are ideal for adding small amounts to future recipes without thawing a large batch.
- For a nut-free version, nuts can be omitted though it will alter the traditional texture and taste.
Keywords: basil pesto, homemade pesto, Italian sauce, basil sauce, pine nuts pesto, easy pesto recipe
Find it online: https://thedishspot.com/vibrant-homemade-basil-pesto-recipe/
