Basil Pesto Recipe
My basil plants were in overdrive this season. As soon as summer heats up they practically bolt out of the ground. Sweet Girl and I decided to make a few batches of Basil Pesto for our pantry. We harvested such an enormous basket of basil we had more than enough to give to friends and family too.
The lineup of ingredients couldn’t be any simpler:
2 cups packed basil leaves
2 gloves garlic
1/4c toasted pine nuts
2/3c extra virgin olive oil
1/2c pecorino romano cheese
kosher salt & pepper to taste.
Add all the ingredients except oil to your food processor and pulse it a few times. Slowly add the oil and whir it up until it has a nice consistency. I prefer mine to have a light texture not completely smooth. If you are freezing this, pour some oil over the top before sealing the lid. It will keep for a few months in the freezer. That’s it. Easy peasy. We often have it on pasta with shredded rotisserie chicken and mozarella cheese sprinkled in. But it’s also good on pizza. Delish!
40 Responses to “Basil Pesto Recipe”
Hello Heather!
The basil pesto looks yummy…I think I’ll try the recipe!
I enjoy your blog!
Happy Tuesday!
Neida
Buongiorno Heather,
try some pesto in ice cubes. After frozen you can transfer the cubes in a zip lock bag, still keep frozen. Perfect amount for one batch of tomatoes sauce. Have a great day. Ciao Rita mammabellarte
I use that same recipe! We love it on pasta. It makes a great cold pasta salad dressing! I also freeze it in ice cube trays and transfer to a ziplock bag!
Jody
That basil looks amazing, and the pesto… mmm mmm. makes me want a yummy turkey, pesto and cranberry sandwich, my favorite!
Yummo, what a great recipe! I love the little jars!
Thanks Heather! I’m going to make this tonight.
Thanks Heather! I’m going to make this tonight.
Thanks Heather! I’m going to make this tonight.
Hi Heather,
thanks for the reminder…I need to use up my herbs in my garden (hehehe)…it finally decided to get hot here in Riverside County for us all. I must confess, I kinda like it hot out and kinda missed our non hot Summer. I hope you have a week full of bliss…
Smiles and Blessings,
Sheila
Oh, so yummy Heather! Thank you for sharing the recipe! The photo’s are gorgeous!!!
Have a lovely day!
Deb
Making this tonight. Looks great and I have all of the ingredients! Yum!
The lovely basket of basil looks so sweet. The recipe looks easy and really yummy. thanks for sharing.
hugs
Sissie
I had a recipe that included less oil and more lemon juice that was just super yummy! I love pesto any way it comes, I need to replant my basil, I miss it!!
Looks like a recipe I could tackle.. yummy!!
Thats funny I just made pesto myself today I didnt add the cheese because I was freezing it. I will add the cheese fresh when I use it. Did you find the pine nuts where very expensive? One little handfull cost me 8 dollars. I was shocked. cheers Frances
The timing on this couldn’t have been more perfect! My basil plants are growing faster than I can use them. I have never planted herbs before but was so happy I did this year. The recipe sounds delish!
~michelle~
It looks so delicious! I love pesto…thanks for the recipe:).
~Julia
what a beautiful gift to make yourself, love the colour!
I have an overload of basil, too! This is a great idea, now I know what to do with it all. Thank you
This sounds so WONDERFUL! I totally think this would be at hit at our next culinary dinner. Thanks for sharing.
LOVE your blog. You are so talented!
Andrea
Fresh pesto! One of summer’s best treats! Yum!
Hi 🙂 I can smell basil from here!! 🙂 I freez it too and it still the same!
Kisses
Etta
Love it!
we love pesto! and to make our own will be wonderful! i cant wait to try it! and you can make anything look pretty! thanks for sharing!
thanks so much! i’m up to my ears in basil right now.
Nice!
That would make a nice hostess gift.
I also have an abundance of basil. am going to try your recipe. How many little jars did this batch make?
Love this blog and am always checking it hoping for new inspirations. Thanks for sharing you life with us all.
Linda
I tried your pesto recipe this weekend. Yummy on spinich fettuccini with cubed roasted chicken and mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes. I found that 1 recipe filled 2 pint jars.
Just made the pesto. delish. thanks again for sharing.
Oh my, is there anything better than pesto! Yum! Lovely photos too!
Diane
I ♥ pesto!! 🙂 another yummy way to use it… (we discovered this summer) …Pesto on corn on the cob! Sprinkled with a bit of shredded parmesan- heaven. Toothpicks/floss following dinner- a must! ha ha!
Beautiful pictures! I made pesto this weekend too…those basil plants really do multiple! And I always freeze some in ice cube trays too so I always have the perfect amount.
okay–so if i plan to freeze, don’t add cheese. did you seal them in a canning process or did you just put them in a basic container? how long will it last in the fridge?
thanks! paige
wonderful basket of basil.
speaking of easy Peasy,
years ago, i started using green peas in my pesto, upgrades it~ but also brightens the green… prevents pesto from getting dark. 😉
Hi Heather,
I googled a pesto recipe and found your blog. It’s really lovely and the pesto looks divine. Thanks…
If you can’t find pine nuts or find them too expensive, walnuts work great in pesto.
oh thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Can you can it and store it. I want to preserve it now and give for gifts or use over time. Would I just give it a water bath. I’m wondering how to keep it from turning brown with that method.
you can only freeze pesto you can’t bottle it because it has cheese and olive oil in it
Thank you Heather, I got your recipe off pinterest. I just made it and put it in the freezer. We had our first freeze and I didn’t dare lose my basil!!! Perfect use for it, and the pesto is delicious, thanks for sharing 🙂
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