This Homemade Pesto is a fresh and flavorful sauce made from simple ingredients. Originating from Italy, it combines fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and olive oil.
To make the best pesto, lighlty toast the pine nuts in a skillet or in the oven, to bring a rich, nutty flavor. Use fresh basil leaves and fresh garlic for a vibrant color and pungent aroma. Don’t skip the Parmesan cheese as this will add a sharp, tangy kick. Blend everything together with extra virgin olive oil to create a smooth, creamy sauce.
This versatile sauce can transform a basic pasta dish into something special. It’s also great as a spread on sandwiches or bruschetta, a dip for bread, or a topping for grilled meats and vegetables. It is also a great addition to savory bread appetizers or as a filling for meat roulade.
Each spoonful of homemade pesto bursts with the fresh, vibrant flavors of its ingredients, making it a delicious addition to many meals.
How to make pesto
Begin with heating a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pine nuts and toast until light brown. Let them cool slightly.
Next, in a food processor, add the pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper and process until well combined. Then, add the fresh basil leaves and process until combined.
Finally, add in the olive oil and Parmesan cheese and process again until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
I hope you’ll give this homemade pesto a try as it’s so much better than the store-bought ones. If you do, make sure to tag me on your Instagram posts, so I can see your amazing results. Enjoy!
Other dips you may like to try
For a refreshing dip try our Tzatziki Sauce, a dip made from yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and herbs. It is perfect for pairing with grilled meats, vegetables, or as a spread.
This Tirokafteri Dip, is another Greek recipe, a spicy cheese dip made from feta, roasted peppers, yogurt, and olive oil. This flavorful and creamy spread is perfect for pairing with bread, vegetables, or grilled meats.
Marinara sauce is a classic Italian tomato sauce made with tomatoes, garlic and herbs, a flavorful sauce perfect for dipping, pasta or pizza.
For more dips check out collection of 15 Easy Dip Recipes.
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Homemade Pesto
Ingredients
- 2 cups (40g) fresh basil leaves
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tbsp (15g) lemon juice
- 1/2 cup (75g) pine nuts , toasted
- 1/4 cup (25g) Parmesan , freshly grated
- 1/4 tsp (1g) salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup (60g) olive oil
Instructions
- Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pine nuts and toast until light brown. Let them cool slightly.
- In a food processor, add the pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Process until well combined.
- Add the basil leaves.
- Process until well combined.
- Add in the olive oil and the Parmesan cheese.
- Process again until combined and smooth.
- Serve pesto with pasta, over sandwiches, on bruschetta, grilled meat or add it to salads.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @homecookingadventure on Instagram and hashtag it #homecookingadventure.
