Basil Pesto Sauce
Basil Pesto is fresh, vibrant and better than anything you can buy at the store! It comes together in 15 minutes and it's freezer-friendly!
Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 123kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup pine nuts
- 4 cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and halved; omit to make Low FODMAP
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil add more as needed to reach the desired texture
Instructions
- Toast the pine nuts in a small skillet over medium low heat, stirring frequently until golden and fragrant, about 5-6 minutes. Keep a close eye on them as they can burn very quickly.1/3 cup pine nuts
- Add basil, garlic, nuts, lemon juice, parmesan cheese and salt to a food processor and pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber scraper.2 cloves garlic, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 4 cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves
- With the processor running, add the olive oil through the feed tube and process until the sauce reaches the desired consistency. Add more oil and adjust the salt to suit your taste. Enjoy!1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Notes
- Pro tip: Prepare pesto sauce up to a few days in advance or freeze for up to 3 months to make dinner easier on busy nights.
- Pine nuts may be raw or toasted, but toasting them adds flavor. They may be subbed with walnuts or almonds.
- While I personally don't blanch my basil or greens for pesto sauce, you can certainly opt to do that if you'd like your sauce to be a brighter shade of green.
- See my post How to Make Pesto Sauce for pesto sauce variations.
- Use your pesto sauce for pizza and pasta, as a spread for sandwiches and burgers, in quinoa or farro salads, or as a condiment for roasted veggies!
Nutrition
Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 123kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 123mg | Fiber: 1g