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A bowl of homemade pesto with bread and a spoon.
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5 from 1 vote

Easy Basil Pesto

This homemade pesto recipe comes together in just 5 minutes! Combine fresh basil, parmesan cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, and pine nuts in a small food processor and process until smooth.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Condiments
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: pesto, pesto recipe
Servings: 5
Author: Lee Funke

Ingredients

  • 1 cup packed basil leaves fresh (~20-22 fresh basil leaves)
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 medium clove garlic
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into a high-speed food processor. 
    A food processor filled with vegetables and rice.
  • Process on high for about 1 to 2 minutes. Stop to scrape the sides as needed. Make sure not to over-process as some grittiness is great for the texture of pesto.
    Pesto in a food processor.
  • If your pesto is too thick, add more olive oil by the teaspoon and pulse until mostly smooth.

Video

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="VU0rvmeg" upload-date="2021-07-02T22:27:06.000Z" name="Pesto Recipe" description="This basil pesto is made with simple ingredients of fresh basil, parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. This pesto recipe is perfect for bread dipping and delicious tossed with pasta."]

Notes

  • Makes about 1/3 cup pesto. Serving size is ~2 tablespoons.
  • This recipe was updated on June 17th, 2021.
  • Don't over-process your pesto or it may turn slimy.
  • Storage: store fresh pesto in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • To freeze: transfer 1-2 tablespoons of pesto into a silicone ice cube tray. Freeze for at least 8 hours and then transfer into a gallon-size plastic bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g