Homemade Basil Pesto

This Fresh Homemade Basil Pesto is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to use all that basil that is growing in your garden.

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Course: Condiment

Keyword: Basil, Pesto

Prep Time: 15

Total Time: 15

Calories: 449kcal

Author: S Jones

Equipment

Food Processor

Ingredients

2 1/2 to 3 cups fresh sweet basil leaves, packed
2 - 4 cloves garlic
1 TBSP lemon juice
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup parmesan, grated
salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Toast pine nuts by heating a skillet (or pan) over medium-high heat; toast pine nuts until golden, tossing occasionally in the pan OR
Toast pine nuts by placing them on a microwave safe plate. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir and microwave again for another 30 seconds or until pine nuts smell fragrant. Do not overcook.
Allow pine nuts to cool slightly.
Place all the ingredients, except the olive oil in a food processor.
Process, drizzling the oil in a nice, thin stream until emulsified.
You may need to scrap down the sides to make sure all the ingredients are mixed correctly.
For a more traditional pesto sauce, pine nuts can be substituted for walnuts.
For a milder basil taste, you can substitute half of the basil with baby spinach leaves.

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Nutrition

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. The values may vary according to the ingredients and tools that are used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed information.