Fresh Basil Pesto
This versatile, no-cook sauce can be enjoyed with many of your favorite pasta, fish, chicken, soup, or vegetable recipes.
Most modern recipes, including this one, call for making pesto with a food processor to combine the ingredients. This method works well, but produces a very homogenized final result.
For a more traditional approach, try hand-chopping the individual ingredients. The individual components will be less uniform, resulting in more distinct individual flavors among bites.
For a smooth consistency, I recommend using a high-quality blender like a Kitchen Ninja.
Fresh Basil Pesto
Easy pesto you can make in minutes!
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Fresh Basil Loosely Packed
- 1/4 Cup Red Wine Vinegar
- 2-3 Cloves garlic Peeled
- 1/3 Cup High-quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil Plus 2 Tbsp.
- 2/3 Cup Parmesan cheese Freshly Grated
- Salt & Pepper To Taste
Instructions
- Remove basil leaves from stems, then wash and pat dry. Add basil, pine nuts, and peeled garlic gloves to food processor or blender.
- Quickly pulse until barely combined, then add 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil and blend thoroughly.
- Transfer to a medium glass bowl. Stir in Parmesan cheese and remaining olive oil to achieve the desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Notes
Use immediately. Freeze leftovers in ice cube trays covered with a layer of olive oil. Once frozen, remove “pesto cubes” from trays and store in freezer-safe plastic bags for future use in soups or stews.
