Description
This recipe uses the classic ingredients found in traditional pesto alla Genovese. The combination of basil, garlic, pine nuts, and parmesan cheese creates a bright, aromatic sauce that’s perfect for dressing up anything from pasta to grilled meats.
Ingredients
2 cups of fresh basil leaves, tightly packed (basilico)
1/3 cup of pine nuts, toasted
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
2 small garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
Instructions
Toast the Pine Nuts
Start by toasting your pine nuts in a dry pan over medium heat. Keep an eye on them and stir frequently until they’re golden brown and fragrant. This adds a rich, nutty flavour to your basil pesto.
Blend the Ingredients
In a food processor, combine the basil leaves, toasted pine nuts, garlic cloves, and parmesan cheese. Pulse it a few times to chop everything up and get those flavours blending.
Add the Olive Oil
While the food processor is running, slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil until everything is smooth yet chunky. Don’t forget to season with salt and pepper to taste and add a dash of lemon juice.
And that’s it! You’ve just made authentic pesto di basilico in under 10 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10
- Category: Sauces
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mediterranean