How to Make Homemade Pesto - A Step-by-Step Guide

When it comes to homemade sauces, pesto is a classic that never fails to satisfy. Made with fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, this vibrant green sauce is a versatile and flavorful addition to a wide range of dishes. Whether you’re tossing it with pasta, slathering it on toast, or using it as a marinade, homemade pesto brings a burst of freshness and brightness to any meal. Plus, making your own pesto at home allows you to customize the flavors to your liking and ...

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Ingredients

  • 4 cups packed fresh basil leaves
  • ¼ cup Italian parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and lightly crushed
  • 1 cup pine nuts
  • 1 ½ cups shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, or more as needed
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

Information

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 15 mins
  • Servings: 6
  • Yield: 6 servings

  • Place basil, Italian parsley, and garlic into a food processor, pulse several times to combine, and process until basil is finely chopped, about 30 seconds. Add pine nuts to basil mixture; process until finely chopped, 30 more seconds. Process Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese into mixture until finely ground.
  • Mix lemon juice into mixture with the machine running; slowly drizzle olive oil into pesto in the running machine until incorporated and pesto is thoroughly combined. Turn off machine and season pesto to taste with salt and black pepper.
  • Nutrition

    389 cal.

    • Total Fat: 36g
    • Saturated Fat: 8g
    • Cholesterol: 14mg
    • Sodium: 343mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 5g
    • Dietary Fiber: 2g
    • Total Sugars: 1g
    • Protein: 14g
    • Vitamin C: 7mg
    • Calcium: 308mg
    • Iron: 3mg
    • Potassium: 245mg