5.0 from 45 votes
Basil Pesto Recipe
Quick and tasty, this basil pesto is ready in just 10 minutes. Read my tips for making the best pesto you've ever tried and use it in sandwiches, pizza and pasta.
Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 196 kcal
Course:
Condiments
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pine nuts
- 2 cups fresh basil packed
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or pecornio
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Place a pan over medium heat. Toast the pine nuts until partially golden, about 3 minutes. Stir frequently to avoid burning. Turn the heat off and set the pine nuts aside.
- Place the basil leaves in the bowl of a food processor with the garlic, toasted pine nuts, Parmigiano-Reggiano and salt. Blend until the basil and pine nuts are finely chopped.
- While the food processor is running, drizzle the olive oil into the food processor in a thin stream. Once you've used all the olive oil, stop the food processor and scrape down the sides. Blend again for a few seconds if needed.
- Store in an airtight jar or container and top with more olive oil to prevent oxidization and color change.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Use basil pesto in sandwiches, soups, pastas or pizzas.
- If properly stores, pesto can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. Make sure it's covered with olive oil.
- To freeze pesto transfer it to an ice cube tray and freeze. Put all the frozen pesto cubes in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 6 months.
Nutrition Information
Serving
2tbsp
Calories
196kcal
(10%)
Carbohydrates
2g
(1%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
20g
(31%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
4g
Monounsaturated Fat
12g
Cholesterol
3mg
(1%)
Sodium
213mg
(9%)
Potassium
77mg
(2%)
Fiber
0.4g
(2%)
Sugar
0.4g
(1%)
Vitamin A
352IU
(7%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
64mg
(6%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 196
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 2tbsp | |
| Calories | 196kcal | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 2g | 1% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 20g | 31% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4g | 24% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Cholesterol | 3mg | 1% |
| Sodium | 213mg | 9% |
| Potassium | 77mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 0.4g | 2% |
| Sugar | 0.4g | 1% |
| Vitamin A | 352IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 64mg | 6% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.