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5.0 from 6 votes

Easy Homemade Pesto

This Homemade Pesto Genovese has just 7 simple ingredients and is so delicious, you'll never want to eat store-bought again!

Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 68 kcal
Course: Condiments
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups packed fresh basil stems removed, 50 g
  • ¼ cup pine nuts* 20 g
  • ½ cup fresh grated parmesan 50 g
  • 3-4 cloves garlic
  • ½ tsp each salt and pepper
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil 120 mL

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Blitz: Place basil, pine nuts, parmesan, garlic, salt, and pepper in a food processor and blend until evenly mixed and finely ground. With a spoon or spatula, scrape down the sides to ensure everything is nice and mixed.
  2. Pour: With food processor running, slowly pour in the oil.

Notes

  • *Add toasty flavor by toasting pine nuts in a skillet until golden brown.
  • To store pesto, transfer to a clean container and top with a bit of olive oil. Cover and place in fridge for up to a week.

  • Variations of this pesto:

    Use leafy greens instead of basil. Spinach, kale, and even carrot tops all work well! Guide to leafy greens pesto here. Replace the pine nuts with a different nut, like almonds or walnuts. Add avocado to replace some of the olive oil, like we do in this Zucchini Pasta with Avocado Pesto. Add roasted pepper to give your pesto a pop of color and smokiness.

  • Use leafy greens instead of basil. Spinach, kale, and even carrot tops all work well! Guide to leafy greens pesto here.
  • Replace the pine nuts with a different nut, like almonds or walnuts.
  • Add avocado to replace some of the olive oil, like we do in this Zucchini Pasta with Avocado Pesto.
  • Add roasted pepper to give your pesto a pop of color and smokiness.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1Tbsp Calories 68kcal (3%) Carbohydrates 0.4g (0%) Protein 1.3g (3%) Fat 7.3g (11%) Saturated Fat 1.4g (7%) Cholesterol 2mg (1%) Sodium 89mg (4%) Potassium 14mg (0%) Fiber 0.1g (0%) Sugar 0g (0%) Calcium 38mg (4%) Iron 0mg (0%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1cup

Amount Per Serving

Calories 68

% Daily Value*

Serving 1Tbsp
Calories 68kcal 3%
Carbohydrates 0.4g 0%
Protein 1.3g 3%
Fat 7.3g 11%
Saturated Fat 1.4g 7%
Cholesterol 2mg 1%
Sodium 89mg 4%
Potassium 14mg 0%
Fiber 0.1g 0%
Sugar 0g 0%
Calcium 38mg 4%
Iron 0mg 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.