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Basil pesto sauce in a small bowl garnished with pine nuts and a spoon in the bowl.
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Homemade Basil Pesto

A fresh and flavorful basil pesto sauce made with basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, perfect for pasta, sandwiches, and more.
Course Sauces
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Assembly Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 216kcal
Author Tina Frank

Equipment

  • Food Processor or Mortar and Pestle
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons
  • Cheese Grater

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh basil packed
  • ½ cup pine nuts
  • 3 cloves fresh garlic
  • ¾ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste

Instructions

  • Wash and dry the fresh basil leaves. Peel the garlic cloves.
  • Combine 2 cups of basil leaves and ½ cup of pine nuts in a food processor. Pulse several times until the ingredients are finely chopped.
  • Add 3 garlic cloves and ¾ cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to the food processor. Pulse again until well combined.
  • Slowly pour in ½ cup of extra-virgin olive oil in a steady stream. Continue to process until the mixture is smooth and well combined. You may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure everything is mixed evenly. Add ½ teaspoon of kosher salt and pulse a few more times to combine.

Notes

Fresh/High-quality ingredients: Using fresh, high-quality ingredients ensures the flavors will shine in this recipe! 
Sauce consistency: If your sauce is too thick you can add more extra virgin olive oil until you reach the desired consistency. 
 
 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 296mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 392IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 125mg | Iron: 1mg