Homemade Basil Pesto

Basil Pesto is full of flavor and can be used in so many different ways. Make your own pesto with fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and Parmesan cheese.

Homemade Basil Pesto is packed full of flavor. Right now my basil in my garden is going crazy. It had such a slow start and I was certain I wasn’t going to be able to make any pesto this year.

Then, boom.  It turned hot and the basil grew and grew and grew. I keep picking and making batches of pesto. I freeze the pesto in small containers to use all year long. We use pesto as a dip with crackers, mixed in pasta, spread on pizza and baked into bread.

To make pesto you just need five basic ingredients; fresh basil, fresh garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese and olive oil. Oh and you need salt and pepper. You need those for flavor but they really don’t count as an ingredient! Right?

You can store pesto in the fridge for a week or freeze it so you enjoy the fresh taste of summer all year long!

A couple of recipes I use with my basil –

• Pesto Cheesy Bread
• Pesto Grilled Cheese

5 from 2 votes

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Homemade Basil Pesto

Prep Time

15 mins

Total Time

15 mins

 

Pesto made with fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts and Parmesan cheese.

Course: Condiment, Freezer Friendly, Sauce

Cuisine: American

Keyword: basil pesto, pesto

Servings: 10 people

Calories: 141 kcal

Author: Kathy

Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh basil leaves
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

1. Place garlic cloves in a food processor. Pulse for a few seconds until garlic is chopped. 

2. Add basil. Turn processor on. With motor running drizzle olive oil through feed tube. 

3. Scrape down sides.  Add pine nuts, cheese, salt and pepper. Run processor until ingredients are well combined.

4. If mixture is too thick, add an additional tablespoon of olive oil.

5. Use pesto right away or cover and refrigerate.

6. Pesto can also be frozen. 

Recipe Video

Nutrition Facts

Homemade Basil Pesto

Amount Per Serving

Calories 141 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 14g 22%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Cholesterol 3mg 1%

Sodium 139mg 6%

Potassium 53mg 2%

Total Carbohydrates 1g 0%

Protein 2g 4%

Vitamin A 10.9%

Vitamin C 2.3%

Calcium 7.7%

Iron 3.3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Other Great Recipes

Cheesy Pesto Bread

Orzo Pasta