This easy pesto recipe is so great at any time of the year, but with the abundance of fresh basil in the market lately, I feel that there is no better time than now to make your own homemade pesto.
I love serving pesto with pasta, but it is also great on pieces of bread too! If you grow your own basil, this is a great recipe to make often!
Ever since we got back from our wonderful trip to Italy in the region where pesto was first created in Genoa, I have been wanting to recreate some of those tasty Italian dishes.
This Easy Basil Pesto can be made in just minutes with a food processor or blender and there are so many ways to enjoy it.
It is also so easy to make because there are only a few ingredients in basil pesto. You will want to use fresh basil for this one, although you can use minced garlic in a jar and pre-grated parmesan cheese for convenience.
Within minutes, you will have a wonderful, flavorful sauce that complements so many foods. Some of the foods that pesto complements are:
- Pasta
- Crusty Bread
- On Crusty Fresh Bread
- Chicken
- Potatoes
- Zucchini
- Pizza
Some serving suggestions would include pasta, poultry, meat and bread.
There are many ways to use basil pesto. It is perfect on bread, as a nice flavor to casseroles, wraps, salads, and vegetables. Fresh pesto will keep fresh in the refrigerator about 3-4 days if kept in an airtight container. Try some on a wrap or sandwich and it will elevate the flavor to a whole new level.
I have made this recipe so many times and once you try it, you will always want to make your own.
The best part is that Pesto only takes a few ingredients and you can change them up too!
Easy Pesto Recipe
Simple Pesto Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups fresh basil
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup pine nuts
- ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Wash the basil leaves and pat dry.
- Remove the stems and discard.
- Place the leaves, olive oil, garlic, pine nuts and cheese in a food processor or blender.
- Run on medium until smooth.
- Enjoy on fresh pasta or about a million other ways.
Nutrition
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Do you like pesto?
Tamara
It's so fresh and green and I love that. We have a lot of basil from our garden, so it's amazing to get to eat it and know where it grew. Cassidy makes massive amounts of pesto!
Raquel
I bet Cassidy makes a good pesto. Loved the photo of him making grilled cheese for all his coworkers too!
Akaleistar
The sauce looks delicious! I love how bright and fresh it looks 🙂
Raquel
Thanks Ashley! There's nothing like fresh pesto!