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5.0 from 15 votes

Really Easy Pesto Recipe

This homemade pesto recipe is super easy! You just need a handful of ingredients and a food processor. It tastes so much better than the store-bought variety.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 4 (makes about 1 cup)
Calories: 319 kcal
Course: Condiments
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (tightly packed) basil
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts
  • 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2-3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. If you wish to toast the pine nuts, add them to a skillet over medium-high heat, and watch them carefully. After a few minutes, they will start to brown. Toss them often until they're lightly golden/browned on both sides. This whole process only takes about 5-10 minutes.
  2. Prep your other ingredients and add everything to the bowl of a food processor except for the olive oil.
  3. Pulse until everything is combined, then slowly drizzle the oil in while the motor is running on "low". Stop to scrape down the sides and continue processing until there's no large pieces of pine nuts.
  4. Transfer to a jar, and store in the fridge for up to a week.

Notes

  • You can skip toasting the pine nuts if you wish. 
  • Customizations: I encourage you to add more garlic, oil, or even red pepper flakes if you want it to be spicy. Play with the recipe until it tastes exactly how you want it!
  • This is my beloved Kitchen Aid food processor that I used to make this pesto.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition Information

Calories 319kcal (16%) Carbohydrates 3g (1%) Protein 9g (18%) Fat 31g (48%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Cholesterol 17mg (6%) Sodium 288mg (12%) Potassium 108mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 479IU (10%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 221mg (22%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4(makes about 1 cup)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 319

% Daily Value*

Calories 319kcal 16%
Carbohydrates 3g 1%
Protein 9g 18%
Fat 31g 48%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 17mg 6%
Sodium 288mg 12%
Potassium 108mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 479IU 10%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 221mg 22%
Iron 1mg 6%

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