Fresh Homemade Basil Pesto

User Reviews

5.0

21 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    10 mins

  • Cook Time

    10 mins

  • Total Time

    20 mins

  • Servings

    6 people

  • Calories

    277 kcal

  • Course

    Appetizer

  • Cuisine

    Italian

Fresh Homemade Basil Pesto

A classic summertime pasta sauce. Adjust to your own taste by adding more garlic or cheese. Please use real cheese and not the "green box"! Serves 6 as a "primi" or 4 as a main course.

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 4 cups basil leaves stems removed, loosely packed
  • 4 cloves garlic peeled and chopped
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts lightly toasted
  • 1/2 olive oil
  • 1/3 cup Parmigiano Reggiano grated
  • kosher salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • 12 ounces fusilli
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Instructions

  1. In a food processor fitted with blade, process basil leaves, and pine nuts with a few pulses.
  2. With food processor running, add chopped garlic, and slowly drizzle olive oil, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  3. Add cheese, and pulse for a few seconds, taste and adjust seasoning, adding black pepper and salt if necessary.
  4. Fill a large pot with salted water, and bring to a boil. Add fusilli.
  5. Cook pasta a minute or two LESS than the package directions. You do not want to over-cook the pasta as you will finish cooking it on the stove with the sauce. Just before draining pasta, reserve about 1 cup of pasta water.
  6. Toss the pasta with some of the sauce and a small ladle of the pasta water, gently stir the pasta and swirl the pan until the sauce is incorporated, adding more pesto and pasta water until the sauce is creamy and smooth.
  7. Store any leftover pesto in the refrigerator, covered with a thin layer of olive oil, for up to a week.

Notes

  • For pesto, use the best quality ingredients you can afford. If Parmigiano Reggiano is too expensive, use a good quality Pecorino Romano. (not the green cylinder!)
  • Walnuts can be substituted for pine nuts.
  • Store leftover pesto in the fridge in a jar with a thin layer of oil on top.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 1person Calories 277kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 44g (15%) Protein 11g (22%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 2g Cholesterol 4mg (1%) Sodium 93mg (4%) Potassium 220mg (6%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 889IU (18%) Vitamin C 4mg (4%) Calcium 111mg (11%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 277 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1person
Calories 277kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 44g 15%
Protein 11g 22%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 4mg 1%
Sodium 93mg 4%
Potassium 220mg 5%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 889IU 18%
Vitamin C 4mg 4%
Calcium 111mg 11%
Iron 2mg 11%

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

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5.0

21 reviews
Excellent

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