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Basil Pesto

A fresh basil pesto made with pine nuts, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and optional Parmesan.

basilpestosauceitalian
Illustration of Basil Pesto
Illustration

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pine nuts, toasted
  • 4 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves, small
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cups basil leaves
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for a smoother pesto
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, optional

Steps

1Blend the base

  1. Add 1 cup toasted pine nuts to a food processor.
  2. Add 4 tbsp fresh lemon juice.
  3. Add 2 small garlic cloves.
  4. Add 1/4 tsp sea salt.
  5. Add freshly ground black pepper.
  6. Pulse until well chopped.
  7. Add 2 cups basil leaves.
  8. Pulse until combined.

2Finish the pesto

  1. With the food processor running, drizzle in 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil.
  2. Pulse until combined.
  3. Add 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if using.
  4. Pulse to briefly combine.