Homemade Basil Pesto Recipe

Pesto - a traditional Italian condiment that improves every dish with its perfect combination of aromatic herbs and nutty richness.

Prep Time 10

Servings

Calories 223.4kcal

Wash the basil leaves thoroughly and gently pat them dry with a clean towel.
Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are golden brown and fragrant. Be careful not to burn them.
Grate the Parmesan cheese using a fine grater or a microplane and Zest the lemon, being careful to avoid the white pith.
In a food processor or blender, combine the basil leaves, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, toasted pine nuts, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Pulse until coarsely chopped.
With the machine running, slowly pour in the olive oil through the feed tube. Scrape down the sides as needed.
Add the grated Parmesan cheese and pulse until well combined.
Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Adjust the consistency by adding more olive oil if necessary.

Feel free to adjust the quantities of the ingredients based on your taste preferences.
Blend or hand-crush to your preferred consistency. A food processor or blender produces a smooth consistency, and a mortar and pestle produce a coarser texture.
Adjust pesto seasoning, adding salt or freshly ground black pepper to enhance flavors and taste.
Store pesto with olive oil to maintain a vibrant green color.