Homemade Basil Pesto for Pasta, Sandwiches & More
A quick, classic basil pesto that’s perfect for tossing with pasta, spreading on sandwiches, spooning over roasted veggies, and more!
Ingredients
- 3 cups basil leaves, stems removed
- ½ cup grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese
- 1 cup toasted pine nuts, walnuts, or almonds*
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped (or 1 teaspoon powder)
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, or more to taste
- ¼ cup water
- 6 to 8 tablespoons EVOO, depending on preferred consistency
Instructions
- Combine the basil, Parmesan, nuts, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper in a food processor or blender and pulse until finely chopped. Add ¼ cup water and scrape down the sides as needed to ensure everything is well combined.
- Then drizzle in the oil while you continue to pulse until everything is evenly blended (start with 6 Tablespoons and check consistency. Add an additional 1 Tablespoon at a time until it’s the texture you prefer). Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve on crostini, roasted sweet potatoes or toss with your favorite pasta.
- Pro tip: I recommend making the pesto right before serving so it maintains its green color (it develops a browner appearance when it sits; but don’t be thrown by the change in color as it’s still just as delicious). To slow browning in the fridge, place leftover pesto in an airtight container, pour a thin layer of olive oil on top, and cover with a lid.
Notes
* To toast your nuts bake in the oven at 350°F. For pine nuts, bake for about 4 minutes, then stir and bake until golden brown. For the walnuts, bake for about 6-9 minutes, and for almonds, bake for about 5-10 minutes, shaking the pan a few times.
Nutrition Information per serving
Serving Size: 2 tablespoonsCalories: 150Carbohydrates: 2gProtein: 3gTotal Fat: 15g— Unsaturated Fat: 13g— Saturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 130mgFiber: 1gTotal Sugar: 0g— Natural Sugar: 0g— Added Sugar: 0g
Nutrition information is calculated using a leading industry software. That being said, brands can vary, and there may be slight fluctuations in the numbers.