Easy Homemade Pesto Recipe with Fresh Basil
Fresh, flavorful homemade pesto made with basil, Parmesan, toasted pine nuts, garlic, and olive oil. This easy pesto recipe comes together in just minutes and is perfect for pasta, sandwiches, chicken, vegetables, and more.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, stems removed
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
- Remove the stems from the fresh basil leaves.
- Add the basil, olive oil, toasted pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to a food processor.
- Process until smooth and well combined, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Taste the pesto and adjust the olive oil, Parmesan, garlic, salt, or pepper according to your preference.
- Transfer the pesto to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to one week.
Notes
For the best flavor, use toasted pine nuts rather than raw pine nuts.
To toast pine nuts, place them in a dry skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently until they are lightly golden and fragrant. Watch them carefully to prevent burning.
For a thinner pesto, gradually add a little more olive oil until it reaches your desired consistency.
For this recipe, refrigerating and using the pesto within one week is recommended rather than freezing.