Basil Pesto
This classic basil pesto blends fresh basil, garlic, and toasted nuts into a silky green sauce enriched with olive oil and aged cheeses. It’s a freezer-friendly staple — perfect for tossing with pasta, dolloping on soup, or spreading on crostini.
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
base
- 4 cups basil leaves packed (about 120 grams)
- 8 cloves garlic roughly chopped (about 40 grams)
- 2 cups pine nuts or walnuts or a mix, toasted if desired (about 200 grams)
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil 240 ml
to finish
- 1¼ cups grated parmesan cheese about 110 grams
- 1¼ cups grated asiago cheese about 110 grams
- kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
make the base:
- In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine the basil, garlic, and nuts.
- Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped. With the machine running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil through the feed tube until fully emulsified and smooth.
finish the pesto:
- Remove the lid and add the parmesan and asiago cheeses. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pulse just until combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Notes
This is a large-batch pesto designed for preserving. Freeze in small containers, ice cube trays, or silicone molds for easy portioning. It will keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer.
If your basil is pungent, temper it with a handful of spinach or flat-leaf parsley. For a citrusy note, substitute 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil with fresh lemon juice. Pecorino romano makes a sharper, saltier cheese substitution if asiago is unavailable.
If your basil is pungent, temper it with a handful of spinach or flat-leaf parsley. For a citrusy note, substitute 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil with fresh lemon juice. Pecorino romano makes a sharper, saltier cheese substitution if asiago is unavailable.
Nutrition
Calories: 141kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 4gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 131mgPotassium: 55mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 224IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 95mgIron: 0.4mg
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