Homemade Basil Pesto
Make the ultimate homemade basil pesto with this easy, freezer-friendly recipe! Packed with fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, lemon, and aged cheeses for pasta, chicken, or bread.
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 6 cups fresh basil leaves tightly packed
- 1.5 cups Parmesan cheese shredded or grated
- 3/4 cup Pecorino Romano cheese shredded or grated
- 1 1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil
- 3/4 cup pine nuts
- 6 garlic cloves large
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice approx juice of 1 large lemon
- Zest of 1/2 lemon
- 1 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
- 3/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Add the peeled garlic cloves, pine nuts, and coarse salt to the bowl of a food processor or a blender.
- Pulse the ingredients in short bursts until the garlic and pine nuts are broken down into a fine, crumbly meal.
- Add the dry, fresh basil leaves, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice to the work bowl.
- Pulse in brief, one-second bursts just until the basil leaves are coarsely chopped, taking care not to run the motor continuously so the heat does not oxidize or discolor the fresh herbs.
- With the motor running on low speed, slowly stream in the extra virgin olive oil through the feed tube until an emulsified, rich green paste forms. Turn off the appliance and remove the blade or transfer the pesto paste into a mixing bowl.
- Add the shredded Parmesan cheese and Pecorino Romano cheese directly to the pesto mixture. Gently stir the grated cheeses into the sauce by hand using a spoon or rubber spatula until fully incorporated.
- Taste the finished pesto and stir in additional salt and freshly cracked black pepper if desired.
- Serve immediately tossed with pasta, spooned over chicken, or spread onto crusty bread, or transfer to airtight containers to store in the refrigerator or freeze for later.
Nutrition
Calories: 321kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 7gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 486mgPotassium: 99mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 652IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 207mgIron: 1mg
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