Best 6 Simple Garlic And Basil Pesto Recipes

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**Indulge in Culinary Delights: A Journey Through the Realm of Pesto Recipes**

Embark on a culinary voyage into the realm of pesto, a vibrant sauce that captures the essence of freshness and flavor. This versatile creation, originating from the Ligurian region of Italy, has captivated taste buds worldwide with its vibrant green hue and aromatic blend of basil, garlic, pine nuts, and olive oil. Delve into a collection of carefully curated pesto recipes that will tantalize your senses and transform your meals into extraordinary culinary experiences. From the classic Genovese pesto to creative variations infused with unique ingredients, this article offers a symphony of flavors that will leave you craving more. Discover the art of crafting the perfect pesto, mastering techniques for achieving the ideal texture and unlocking the secrets to balancing flavors. Unleash your culinary potential and embark on a journey of taste exploration with these delectable pesto recipes.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

HOMEMADE BASIL PESTO RECIPE



Homemade Basil Pesto Recipe image

This fresh basil pesto recipe is easy to make with pine nuts (or walntus), garlic, Parmesan cheese, and a generous drizzle of quality extra virgin olive oil. Make ahead and store in the fridge or freezer for later use. Be sure to read through my post and watch the video for important tips!

Provided by Suzy Karadsheh

Categories     Condiment

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
1 to 2 clove garlic (roughly chopped)
1/3 cup pine nuts (or walnuts, toasted)
Juice of ½ lemon
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (plus more for storing)
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Kosher salt and black pepper (to taste)

Steps:

  • Quickly blanch the basil. Prepare a bowl of ice water and set aside near your stove. Fill a small saucepan halfway with water and bring to a boil. Drop the basil leaves in the boiling water and blanch for 5 to 10 seconds or until wilted. Using tongs, transfer the basil leaves to prepared ice water to stop cooking.
  • Dry the basil very well. Pick up the basil leaves and wrap them in paper towel and squeeze to wring out all the water.
  • Make the pesto. Place the basil, garlic, pine nuts, and lemon juice in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade. With the processor running, slowly pour the extra virgin olive oil. Do not run the processor too long, you want to have a little bit of texture to your basil pesto.
  • Stir in the Parmesan cheese. Transfer the basil mixture to a small bowl. Add the Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix to combine. If needed add a little bit more extra virgin olive oil to mix.
  • Use immediately or store for later (see notes for storage).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 93 kcal, Carbohydrate 0.6 g, Protein 1.7 g, Fat 9.6 g, SaturatedFat 1.6 g, Cholesterol 2.8 mg, Sodium 120.8 mg, Fiber 0.2 g, Sugar 0.1 g, ServingSize 1 serving

SIMPLE GARLIC AND BASIL PESTO



Simple Garlic and Basil Pesto image

This recipe is something that you can make quickly and easily using a blender. Everything you need is easy to find in your local supermarket. This paste is great for putting on or in meat and pastas, or with cottage cheese in stuffed pasta shells. Once I start making this, the orders from friends and family keep coming in. For best taste, pesto should be heated up in the meal it's being prepared with.

Provided by FUZZYGREENMONKEY

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes     Pasta Sauce Recipes     Vegetarian

Time 15m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 7

3 cups chopped fresh basil
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
½ cup pine nuts
⅛ cup Brazil nuts
⅔ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons minced garlic
½ teaspoon chili powder

Steps:

  • Place the basil in a blender. Pour in about 1 tablespoon of the oil, and blend basil into a paste. Gradually add pine nuts, Brazil nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, chili powder, and remaining oil. Continue to blend until smooth.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 234.1 calories, Carbohydrate 1.9 g, Cholesterol 3.9 mg, Fat 23.9 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 3.7 g, SaturatedFat 4.2 g, Sodium 70 mg, Sugar 0.3 g

BASIL PESTO



Basil Pesto image

Basil pesto is extremely versatile! It enhances the flavor for all dishes like steak, chicken, fish, vegetables, and pasta! After the ingredients are combined and formed into a tube shape, simply slice whatever size portion you need and freeze the rest! Easy-breezy to prepare and bursting with flavor!

Provided by Bwoogie1

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes     Pasta Sauce Recipes

Time 15m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 6

4 cups packed fresh basil leaves
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 cup olive oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
⅔ cup pine nuts
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Combine basil, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and olive oil in a food processor. Pulse to combine. Add garlic, pine nuts, salt, and pepper. Pulse until mixture becomes smooth and blended.
  • Pour mixture onto a large sheet of plastic wrap; roll into a tube shape and seal. Store in the refrigerator until needed.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 177.1 calories, Carbohydrate 1.7 g, Cholesterol 4.4 mg, Fat 17.9 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 3.7 g, SaturatedFat 3.2 g, Sodium 87.2 mg, Sugar 0.3 g

FRESH BASIL PESTO



Fresh Basil Pesto image

Homemade pesto is one of the best ways to enjoy a bounty of fresh basil. It's great on pasta, baked potatoes, pizza, or bread. Make it in just 15 minutes!

Provided by Elise Bauer

Categories     Condiment     Freezer-friendly     Sauce     Basil     Pasta     Pesto     Pine Nut

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed (can sub half the basil leaves with baby spinach)
1/2 cup freshly grated Romano or Parmesan-Reggiano cheese (about 2 ounces)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts (can sub chopped walnuts)
3 garlic cloves, minced (about 3 teaspoons)
1/4 teaspoon salt, more to taste
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, more to taste

Steps:

  • Season the pesto sauce: Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Toss with pasta for a quick sauce, dollop over baked potatoes, or spread onto crackers or toasted slices of bread.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 372 kcal, Carbohydrate 4 g, Cholesterol 11 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 6 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Sodium 359 mg, Sugar 0 g, Fat 38 g, ServingSize Makes 1 cup, UnsaturatedFat 0 g

BASIL PESTO



Basil Pesto image

Keep this basic Basil Pesto recipe from Food Network Kitchen in your arsenal and use it for topping pasta, fish, chicken, pizza and more.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 5m

Yield 1 cup

Number Of Ingredients 6

2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup pine nuts
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino cheese

Steps:

  • Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
  • If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.
  • If freezing, transfer to an air-tight container and drizzle remaining oil over the top. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and stir in cheese.

BASIL AND ROASTED GARLIC PESTO



Basil and Roasted Garlic Pesto image

Make and share this Basil and Roasted Garlic Pesto recipe from Food.com.

Provided by PalatablePastime

Categories     Sauces

Time 1h25m

Yield 1 1/4 cups, 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 head garlic
2 teaspoons olive oil
4 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 -5 sprigs fresh Italian parsley
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
lemon wedge
salt (to taste)
black pepper (to taste)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Cut top 1/3 off of garlic head; peel away paper skin to thin layer or 2 surrounding the cloves.
  • Place in small ovenproof dish; drizzle top with 2 teaspoons of olive oil.
  • Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven for 70 minutes; allow to cool.
  • Squeeze garlic out of the paper skin into a small bowl; set aside.
  • Place half the basil in a blender; add 1/2 the extra virgin olive oil, garlic, parsley, pine nuts, salt, pepper, and the remaining basil, the other half of the oil, and pulse until blended.
  • Remove mixture to a bowl; add the parmesan and juice from lemon wedge and mix well.
  • Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 150.5, Fat 14.9, SaturatedFat 2.2, Cholesterol 2.2, Sodium 40.4, Carbohydrate 3.3, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 0.3, Protein 2.2

Tips:

  • For the best flavor, use fresh basil and garlic. If you don't have fresh basil, you can use dried basil, but the flavor will be less intense.
  • To make sure your pesto is smooth, use a food processor or blender. If you don't have one of these appliances, you can chop the ingredients by hand, but it will take longer.
  • If you want a thinner pesto, add a little bit of olive oil or water. If you want a thicker pesto, add more nuts or cheese.
  • Pesto can be used in a variety of dishes, including pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and salads. It can also be used as a marinade or dipping sauce.
  • Pesto can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze pesto for up to 3 months.

Conclusion:

Pesto is a versatile and delicious sauce that can be used in a variety of dishes. It is easy to make and can be stored for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer. With its fresh, herbaceous flavor, pesto is a great way to add zest to any meal.

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