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Homemade Pesto Sauce

A vibrant and flavorful homemade pesto sauce made with fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and extra-virgin olive oil. Perfect for pasta, sandwiches, and more!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Condiment, Sauce
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pesto Ingredients
  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves Use high-quality, organic basil for best flavor.
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil Drizzle while blending for a creamy texture.
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts Can substitute with walnuts or almonds.
  • 3 cloves garlic Peel before use.
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Black pepper

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Rinse your basil leaves under cold water and pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.
  2. Peel the garlic cloves.
Toasting Pine Nuts
  1. In a dry skillet over medium heat, gently toast the pine nuts until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes.
Blending
  1. In a blender or food processor, combine fresh basil leaves, toasted pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Blend until coarse.
  2. Slowly drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil while blending until you achieve a smooth and creamy consistency.
  3. Scrape down the sides as needed for an even blend.
Seasoning
  1. Taste your pesto and add salt and black pepper to your preference.
  2. Blend for a few more seconds to mix in the seasoning.
Serving and Storage
  1. Your Homemade Pesto Sauce is ready to serve immediately or store it for later.

Notes

To store, cover pesto with a thin layer of olive oil before sealing to prevent oxidation. For freezing, pour pesto into ice cube trays, freeze, and then transfer to a resealable bag.