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A jar filled with homemade basil pesto Recipe, topped with whole nuts and a fresh basil leaf, placed on a wooden surface with a golden spoon nearby.

Basil Pesto Recipe

Authentic Basil Pesto Recipe perfected over 15 years of Italian cooking techniques — silky, vibrant, and versatile. Perfect for pasta, sandwiches, grilled chicken, or as a dip.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Resting 5 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Condiment, Sauce
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
Calories: 190
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups Fresh basil leaves - Washed dried completely
  • 2 cloves Garlic - Peeled
  • ⅓ cup Pine nuts - Toasted golden
  • ½ cup Extra virgin olive oil - Quality Italian/California
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese - Freshly grated
  • ½ teaspoon Fine sea salt - Adjust to taste
  • Optional lemon juice - For brightness

Equipment

  • 1 Food processor or blender (Essential for blending)
  • 1 Sharp knife (For chopping garlic & basil)
  • 1 Measuring cups & spoons (For accuracy)
  • 1 Rubber spatula (Scraping down bowl)
  • 1 Small skillet (For toasting pine nuts)

Method
 

  1. Wash basil, toast pine nuts, and grate Parmesan cheese fresh
    Fresh pesto ingredients arranged on a rustic wooden table, including a bowl of basil leaves, a glass of olive oil, grated cheese, pine nuts, and garlic cloves.
  2. Pulse garlic with salt, then add toasted pine nuts briefly
    A food processor containing freshly blended basil pesto with grated cheese and pine nuts on top, surrounded by ingredients like basil and pine nuts.
  3. Gradually add basil leaves and drizzle olive oil slowly
    A glass jar filled with basil pesto, its surface glistening with olive oil, showing a chunky texture of herbs, nuts, and cheese.
  4. Add Parmesan, taste, adjust seasoning, and store properly
    A jar filled with homemade basil pesto Recipe, topped with whole nuts and a fresh basil leaf, placed on a wooden surface with a golden spoon nearby.

Nutrition

Serving: 30gCalories: 190kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 3gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 150mgPotassium: 75mgFiber: 1gVitamin A: 750IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 0.7mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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