Homemade Basil Pesto tastes better than anything you can buy in the store, and the best part is you are in control of what goes into it! I love that. Control is a beautiful thang!!
If you have a green thumb, unlike me, you most likely have lots of basil you need to either use or lose every summer. Making pesto is a great way to keep from wasting the precious plant you loved and nurtured to such abundance. If you don't have an immediate use for it, you can freeze it!
Pesto can be used in a variety of ways. It is always delicious as a spread on sandwiches, and makes a quick meal when added to pasta too. Pesto is delicious as a base on pizza, tossed with veggies, added to chicken, tuna, or egg salads, I could go on and on! It is super versatile!
Recently, I used it to make Pesto Burgers that were so out-of-this-world delicious, I can't wait to have them again! That recipe will be on the blog this week, so get your pesto ready!!
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A food processor
makes quick work of preparing pesto. Just toss all the dry ingredients in and turn her on. While the food processor is running, drizzle in the olive oil and, BOOM, you've just made pesto!! Easy peasy!
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Homemade Basil Pesto
Published 09/29/2014
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
- 2-3 garlic cloves, peeled
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine 1 cup fresh basil leaves, 2 tablespoons pine nuts, 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated, 2-3 cloves peeled garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- While food processor is running, drizzle in 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil until ingredients are well mixed. I made this pesto on the thick side for spreading. Feel free to add more oil a little at a time to get the consistency the way you like it. Give it a taste and adjust the flavors to your liking. Refrigerate several hours until ready to use.
Prep Time: 5 mins.
Tags: Basil, Garlic, Homemade, Italian, Nuts, Oil, Parmesan, Pesto, Sandwich, Spread
Some more pesto recipes for you....
I adore pesto...and I've never found a store brand that is as good as homemade. Yours looks perfect!
ReplyDeleteSame here, Liz! Pesto is one of my favorite things, and I use it all the time! I bought a store brand once thinking it would save me time, but it was barely palatable.
DeleteI truly am going to make this today.I have every single ingredient already on hand, and need to get that basil used before it is gone! Basil is my current favorite flavor. Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteFantastic, Rachael! If you love basil then I know you'll love it :) This is really a basic recipe for pesto. I sometimes add in a little heat or even spinach to mix things up. It's fun to play around with the flavors and come up with something new.
DeletePesto is one of my favorite things, the flavor combination is amazing! Love the tip about adjusting the thickness of it.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Mary Ellen! I can eat it with just about anything, but throw it on a tomato with some mozzarella and I'm good to go!
DeletePutting pesto on burgers sounds wonderful! I got lucky with my basil this year! I definitely lack the green thumb :)
ReplyDeleteWe really enjoyed it. So much so, we made burgers again last night to use up the last little bit of pesto :) ! Oh man, I hope I get lucky with my pesto some year. My neighbor across the street grows it like mad, but I just can't seem to get it going. Maybe next year....
DeleteWow Marion! Your photos are gorgeous and this looks like just about the tastiest thing ever! I love pesto and thanks to this posting, now I'm craving it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Erica! I think pesto is pretty close to the tastiest thing ever haha
DeleteI could so go for some of this right now! Great photos and recipe!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sheena!
DeleteI could seriously put this on everything! I think I will try pasta with shrimp. Thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteMe too! It is great with pasta and shrimp. Thanks for stopping by :)
DeleteLoving the gorgeous green color of this pesto! Beautiful photos as usual!
ReplyDeleteThis looks so delicious, Marion! And what a tasty way to use up that outdoor basil before the temps drop! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carrie!
DeleteI love this. I should make a batch for my Chicken with Peso Cream Sauce.
ReplyDeleteIt would be delicious in your recipe!! Thanks, Michele!
DeletePesto is one of the best ways to add BIG flavor to a dish. Marion, your photos are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, Valerie! Thanks!!
DeleteI just found your blog and love it. You can never have too much pesto. I always freeze my leftover pesto.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gerlinde! Happy to meet you! I love that pesto freezes so well. It is great to have on hand!!
DeleteI like my pesto thick too. This looks delicious! And the photos are amazing!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are gorgeous! I adore pesto and I love the idea of smothering a burger in it - yum! Your pest looks perfect!
ReplyDeleteHomemade is the only way to go as far as I'm concerned! Looks good!
ReplyDelete