How to Make Basil Pesto Sauce

Have you ever wondered how to make basil pesto sauce? You only need 4 high-quality ingredients, namely fresh basil, pine nuts, cheese and garlic for this fresh pesto recipe. The best part of making this basil sauce is how easily it comes together in a food processor. 

This, my friends, is the ultimate fast food.

It really is!

All you need are a few quality ingredients, a whirl in your food processor and just like that… presto…. you have pesto!!!

Granted, this is not the authentic way to make pesto. In fact, the word pesto (probably) originates from the Italian verb “pestare” which can be loosely translated as “to step on, to press or to crush.”

Naturally, a mortar and pestle quickly come to mind when thinking of pesto. You could, of course, make your pesto this way, but an immersion blender or a food processor facilitates the whole process.

In fact, this uncooked herb sauce is made in less than 10 minutes and when combined with your favorite pasta, you have Pasta al pesto -a quick basil pesto pasta meal.

Since Italian cuisine is all about the quality of the ingredients, let’s first take a closer look at the ingredients and then how easy this homemade pesto comes together in a food processor.

Genovese pesto ingredients

The pesto ingredients I have listed are for a traditional pesto sauce recipe with origins from Genoa, in the region of Liguria.

Needless to say, the key to making a great pesto sauce is using the best, high-quality ingredients. Let’s appreciate each of these ingredients before we make our fresh basil pesto.

Basil

As you can well imagine, we need fresh, bright green basil leaves to make this pesto. The fresher the better and so the best would be handpicked straight from your garden during those hot summer months. As this is not always possible, a basil plant in plastic pots sold in most grocery stores is a great option.  

As fresh is key, avoid using any discolored leaves or wilted plants.

It should be mentioned that there are many varieties of basil available, each contributing a different flavor. If available in your farmers’ market or grocery store, try to get the sweet basil.

Pine nuts

In Italian, these are referred to as pignoli nuts. They provide a rich and creamy texture to our sauce. Briefly toasting them in a pan over medium heat, brings out their natural oils which in turn contributes more flavor to our sauce.

Fresh garlic

Garlic is another important ingredient in making this basil pasta sauce. Rather than simply adding the cloves to the food processor, we are mincing the garlic and turning it into a paste before adding it to the food processor. This little step ensures there are no larger pieces of raw garlic in the pesto sauce. Once again, personal preference will dictate the number of cloves you use. 

Romano cheese

Some recipes will use parmesan cheese. Is one better than the other? Not necessarily. But what you need to know is that the amounts are not interchangeable.

Here is a great article explaining the difference between using Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino Romano cheese in recipes. In summary, “3 ounces of Parmigiano-Reggiano = 2 ounces of Pecorino Romano”.

If you are interested in learning more about Pecorino, this article will take you through the process of making this artisanal Romano cheese in Tuscany.

Extra-virgin olive oil

A great pesto needs to have high-quality extra virgin olive oil. This is the only ingredient that is mandatory and irreplaceable.

How to make basil pesto

So this whole process begins by rinsing your fresh basil, about 3 cups worth, and taking it for a spin in your salad spinner. Since we want the basil to be as dry as possible, spread the leaves out over a tea towel and air dry while we get the rest of the main ingredients together.

We need four tablespoons of pine nuts for this basil sauce. Before we add them to the food processor, we will toast them, but just for a couple of minutes since we want them to retain their creaminess. If you are looking for a nuttier taste, toast them for a little longer. As soon as they have cooled down, add them to your food processor.

This simple recipe calls for 2 cloves of freshly minced garlic. Yes, you read correctly -we need to mince the garlic before adding it to the food processor. This little step will ensure there are no larger pieces of raw garlic in the pesto sauce. Once again, personal preference will dictate the total amount of garlic cloves used.

We need to add about a ½ cup of freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese to the food processor.

So by now, your basil should be dry, your toasted pine nuts should be at room temperature and your cheese of preference is grated. Add them all to the food processor and pulse 4-5 times.

With the food processor on low, slowly add the olive oil in the basil-garlic-nut mixture in a thin stream and for about 30-60 seconds or until desired consistency, according to your personal preference. 

And there you have it, with just a few simple ingredients, you can make a traditional basil pesto sauce.

How to store pesto

If not using immediately, transfer to a sterile small jar, top with a layer of olive oil and refrigerate for up to 3 days. The addition of  ½ teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice helps the basil retain its green color.

Food safety is an issue anytime garlic is immersed in an oxygen-free environment, like pesto. To avoid any potential of botulism, use or refrigerate pesto immediately and use it within 3 days. [source]

Freezing pesto: If you are planning to freeze the pesto, there are a few modifications to the recipe.

First, make sure you blanch the fresh basil leaves. This simple process helps prevent the basil from turning brown. Simply add fresh basil to boiling water. Boil for 5-10 seconds. Remove basil and immediately plunge in an ice water bath. Place on tea towels, pat dry and proceed with the recipe.

Second, for best results, omit the addition of cheese at the time of processing your pesto. You will get a better product by adding the cheese to your pesto when it is defrosted. 

Third, use the ice cube method to freeze the pesto. This allows you to drizzle a little olive oil over the top, thus preventing contact with air and preventing discoloration. When frozen, place the pesto cubes in an airtight container or Ziploc freezer bag and use them within 1 month for the best quality. 

What else can you use basil pesto sauce for besides pasta?

• use it as a spread in sandwiches, burgers or piadina;
• stir it in stews, risotto, frittatas or soups;
• it’s great to use as a topping for pizza;
• use as a spread on baked/grilled chicken or fish;
• add a little more olive oil and spread it over roasted root vegetables;
• mix it in a crustless quiche before baking;
• add a little olive oil and vinegar to create a basil vinaigrette, great to use as a salad dressing;
• combine it with mayonnaise or yogurt when making potato, seafood or pasta salads;
• use as a spread when making bruschetta;

…and more! Just remember, the pesto we have made is much like a concentrate, so a spoonful goes a long way.

Can you replace the pine nuts? 

Absolutely. If pine nuts are not readily available to you, they can easily be replaced by walnuts, cashews, pecans, almonds or any combination of nuts. Just remember to give them a little toasting before using them in this basil pesto recipe.

Can you use roasted garlic in this recipe?

Of course! Using roasted garlic will create a milder pesto that is equally tasty.

Can you mix pesto with ricotta?

Yes, you can create a creamy pesto sauce by adding ¼ cup of homemade ricotta. Simply follow the recipe with the addition of ricotta. This produces a milder and creamier variation of pesto. 

What are some alternative pesto recipes?

Pesto can be made with red pepper, parsley, garlic scapes, avocado, kale or even beet greens to name but a few. The possibilities are truly endless! 

Recipe origins

I’ve been making this flavorful sauce, also referred to as pesto alla Genovese, for decades, without a real recipe, just like my mom. I had to take out the measuring cups and the tablespoons for this one.

As always, feel free to experiment and switch things around. There really is no perfect recipe for pesto. The combinations really depend on what your personal preferences are. Play around with the amounts and the ingredients and have fun experimenting.

I hope you can find 10 minutes and make this wonderful basil pesto… I would love to hear about how you use this pesto sauce!

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

If this is your first time visiting, welcome! I would love to offer you my FREE weekly e-mail newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. When you subscribe, you will also receive a FREE DOWNLOAD that summarizes my top 10 tips on How to Cook Pasta. You can unsubscribe any time you want.

Ciao for now,

Maria

★★★★★ If you have made this classic pesto recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

 

This post was originally published on September 30, 2014. It was republished on July 13, 2018 with updated content, photos and a video, and again on July 9, 2021 with updated content. Thanks for watching and sharing!