Easy Pesto Sauce
Pesto sauce is made with very simple ingredients: basil, extra virgin olive oil, garlic cloves, parmesan, and pine nuts. But you don't have to stick to that formula. If you don't have fresh basil or don't have pine nuts, feel free to make substitutions, using another herb instead of the basil or replacing the pine nuts for toasted walnuts, pecans, or cashew. Likewise, you can substitute kale for the basil and Parmesan cheese for Parmigiano.
Tools
Ingredients
- 2 fresh garlic cloves , roughly chopped
- 2 cups firmly packed fresh basil leaves
- ⅓ cup pine nuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews or almonds , roasted
- ½ cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese or Grana Padano finely grated
- ⅔ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ½ teaspoons kosher salt , adjust to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground Black pepper
Instructions
- Rinse the basil leaves well, dry thoroughly, and coarsely chop. In a food processor, combine the pine nuts, garlic, cheese, salt, and pepper. Process until the mixture is smooth. Add the basil and process until blended. With the machine running, gradually add the extra virgin olive oil.
- Transfer the pesto sauce to a medium bowl— taste and adjust with salt if needed. The sauce is ready to use now, or it may be refrigerated for later use.
Notes
- How to Store: Store leftover pesto in the fridge, covered in a layer of olive oil, for up to 3 days. For longer-term storage, freeze pesto in ice cube trays and cover it with plastic wrap.
- How to Freeze: Pesto will keep in the freezer for up to six months. However, keep in mind that Pesto won’t retain its bright green color after defrosting. You can freeze pesto in ice cube trays, glass jars, or other freezer-safe containers. Different methods will yield slightly different results; what works for you will depend on how you plan to store and use your pesto. After taking the pesto out of the freezer, defrost the pesto in the microwave or in a pot on the stove over low heat. Then, you can enjoy a delicious dish of pesto pasta. You can defrost frozen pesto cubes and brush it on warm bread or serve as a dip for crackers and veggies.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Pesto Sauce
Amount per Serving
Calories
224
% Daily Value*
Fat
24
g
37
%
Saturated Fat
4
g
25
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
4
g
Monounsaturated Fat
15
g
Cholesterol
4
mg
1
%
Sodium
246
mg
11
%
Potassium
61
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
1
g
0
%
Fiber
0.3
g
1
%
Sugar
0.3
g
0
%
Protein
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
367
IU
7
%
Vitamin C
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
87
mg
9
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
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