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Easy Pesto Recipe

This easy pesto recipe is one of our favorite ultra-flavorful sauces. Make the basic recipe as-is, or use one of the substitution ideas to make it your own. With just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes, it's a quick way to make any meal more delicious!

Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
Servings: 12 tablespoons
Calories: 69 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 2 2 cups basil leaves packed
  • ¼ ¼ cup pine nuts lightly toasted
  • ¼ ¼ cup grated parmesan
  • 1 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 1 clove garlic minced
  • ¼ ¼ cup olive oil

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Add the basil, pine nuts, lemon juice, garlic, and salt to your food processor and pulse until combined.
  2. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil with the food processor running. For creamier pesto, add more oil. Add the parmesan cheese and pulse to combine.
  3. Serve the pesto right away or store it in a jar in your fridge for up to a week - see notes.

Notes

  • This recipe makes enough pesto to generously cover pasta for 4 people.
  • The best way to prevent pesto from oxidizing is to pour a little olive oil over the top before you put it into your fridge. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 tablespoon Calories 69kcal (3%) Carbohydrates 1g (0%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 7g (11%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 2mg (1%) Sodium 32mg (1%) Potassium 32mg (1%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 230IU (5%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 31mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12tablespoons

Amount Per Serving

Calories 69

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 tablespoon
Calories 69kcal 3%
Carbohydrates 1g 0%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 7g 11%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 2mg 1%
Sodium 32mg 1%
Potassium 32mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 230IU 5%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 31mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

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