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Pesto Recipe
5 from 12 votes

Pesto Recipe

The Pesto Recipe combines fresh basil leaves with pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, salt, and Parmesan cheese to create a traditional herb sauce. The ingredients are processed gently to keep a coarse texture, preserving the pesto’s vibrant green color and rich aroma, ideal for mixing into pasta or as an accompaniment to meats and vegetables.

Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 165 kcal
Course: Condiments
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 2 cups basil leaves stems removed, fresh, packed
  • ⅓ cup pine nuts
  • 3 garlic peeled, medium cloves
  • ⅓ cup olive oil light
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese finely grated

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Add the basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and salt to a food processor.
  2. Process everything until smooth, stopping as necessary to scrape down the sides of the bowl, about 1 minute. Stir in the Parmesan and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

  • Substitute pine nuts with walnuts, almonds, or pistachios as preferred or omit for a nut-free pesto.
  • Use fresh garlic cloves for stronger flavor rather than jarred garlic.
  • Pulse the ingredients instead of blending for a coarser texture that holds better on pasta and other dishes.
  • Slowly stream in olive oil during processing to keep the sauce emulsified.
  • Refrigerate the pesto after preparation and freeze any extras for later use with pasta or proteins.

Nutrition Information

Calories 165kcal (8%) Carbohydrates 2g (1%) Protein 3g (6%) Fat 17g (26%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Cholesterol 3mg (1%) Sodium 262mg (11%) Potassium 71mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 567IU (11%) Vitamin C 4mg (4%) Calcium 68mg (7%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 165

% Daily Value*

Calories 165kcal 8%
Carbohydrates 2g 1%
Protein 3g 6%
Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 3mg 1%
Sodium 262mg 11%
Potassium 71mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 567IU 11%
Vitamin C 4mg 4%
Calcium 68mg 7%
Iron 1mg 6%

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