Homemade Pesto Recipe

This homemade pesto recipe is so versatile and goes great on top of your favorite pasta, gnocchi or even soups.  You can even just use this pesto to spread across your favorite bread as an easy appetizer. Try making my easy cheesy garlic bread!

You will often find that most recipes, this one included, will call for a food processor. Keep in mind that while this method is great, it can create a homogenized result.

If you want to go the traditional route, you’ll want to hand chop all of the ingredients.

Homemade Pesto Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups fresh basil, loosely packed
¼ cup toasted pine nuts
2 – 4 garlic cloves, peeled (amount based on personal taste and strength of garlic variety used).
2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons really good extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Remove basil leaves from stems, then wash and pat dry. Add basil, pine nuts, peeled garlic cloves and Parmesan cheese to the food processor or blender. Quickly pulse until barely combined, then add 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil and blend thoroughly.

Add remaining olive oil and/or additional grated Parmesan cheese to achieve the desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

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Homemade Pesto Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh basil, loosely packed
• 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
• 2 - 4 garlic cloves, peeled
• 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons really good extra virgin olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Remove basil leaves from stems, then wash and pat dry. Add basil, pine nuts, peeled garlic cloves and Parmesan cheese to the food processor or blender. Quickly pulse until barely combined, then add 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil and blend thoroughly. 
   

2. Add remaining olive oil and/or additional grated Parmesan cheese to achieve the desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.