Description
Homemade pesto is a simple and adaptable recipe that you can use as marinade, in sandwiches, on pasta, or over roasted veggies. It’s full of fresh flavors and wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 2 to 3 large cloves garlic, peeled
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup neutral oil, such as avocado or vegetable oil
- Additional oil, if needed
- Additional salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Remove any large stems (small stems are okay) from the basil, and add it to the bowl of your food processor or blender.
- Add the garlic, pecans, parmesan cheese if using, salt, pepper, and 1/4 cup of olive oil.
- Blend until the mixture starts to come together, scraping down the sides often.
- Add additional oil a little at a time until the mixture comes together, scraping down the sides often, until it becomes well-mixed but not too oily. You are after a paste or sauce texture that is a little on the thick side.
- Give it a taste, and add additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days or in the freezer for much longer.
- Serve over hot pasta, toss grilled or roasted veggies with it, make a pesto sandwich with it, and it’s also great on chicken and fish.
Notes
- You have SO much flexibility with this recipe. Love cheese? Add 1/3 cup or more. Not doing dairy? You can totally skip the cheese. Add more or less garlic or salt to your liking.
- You sure can use traditional pine nuts, but I never have them and they are expensive. I love this recipe with pecans. I have also used pistachios (so good!), almonds, and walnuts with success.
- I like a light oil mixed with the olive oil so that the olive oil flavor isn’t too strong. If you love olive oil, feel free to use just olive oil.
- Feel free to scale this recipe up or down as needed. I make loads of this during peak basil season and just keep it in the freezer. It’s a little pop of summer when the snow flies.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Category: condiment
- Method: blender
- Cuisine: American