Description
Add a burst of vibrant, herbaceous flavor to any meal with this classic homemade pesto! Whether you’re swirling it into pasta, spooning it over grilled chicken, or spreading it on sandwiches, this easy pesto recipe takes just 10 minutes and delivers maximum flavor. Made with fresh basil, garlic, toasted pine nuts, Parmesan, and olive oil, this versatile sauce is a must-have in your cooking rotation. It’s perfect for quick dinners, healthy snacks, and bold food ideas that taste like they took hours to prepare. If you’re searching for a quick breakfast topping, easy dinner starter, or savory snack upgrade—this pesto has you covered.
Ingredients
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
1. Rinse and pat dry the basil leaves to remove any moisture.
2. Toast pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2–3 minutes until golden.
3. Add basil, garlic, toasted pine nuts, and salt to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
4. Add Parmesan cheese and pulse again until combined.
5. With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until a smooth sauce forms.
6. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Add more oil if you prefer a thinner consistency.
Notes
For extra brightness, add a splash of lemon juice before blending.
To keep pesto vibrant green, blanch basil leaves in hot water for 10 seconds, then chill before blending.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 6mg
Keywords: easy pesto, basil sauce, pasta sauce, green pesto, homemade condiment