Name: Basil Pesto Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 16 servings
Cuisine: Italian

August 11, 2025

Once you make this Basil Pesto Sauce you’ll never buy it again! It’s full of fresh, bright flavor that you’ll never get from store bought, and it comes together in about 15 minutes. It can be prepped entirely in advance and it’s freezer-friendly!

From the Cook

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Basil Pesto Sauce

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Ingredients

WarningTreenuts and 3 other allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Toast the pine nuts in a small skillet over medium low heat, stirring frequently until golden and fragrant, about 5-6 minutes. Keep a close eye on them as they can burn very quickly.

Add basil, garlic, nuts, lemon juice, parmesan cheese and salt to a food processor and pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber scraper.

With the processor running, add the olive oil through the feed tube and process until the sauce reaches the desired consistency. Add more oil and adjust the salt to suit your taste. Enjoy!

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Basil Preservation Hack 🌿
Blanch basil leaves for 10 seconds in boiling water before blending to lock in vibrant green color and prevent oxidation.
Toasting Pine Nuts Pro Tip 🥜
Always toast pine nuts in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes before adding to pesto to enhance their nutty flavor and prevent bitterness.
Cheese Grating Secret 🧀
Grate Parmesan cheese fresh and use room temperature cheese for smoother, more even blending in the pesto.
Freezing Pesto Perfection ❄️
Store pesto in ice cube trays, then transfer frozen cubes to a freezer bag for easy portioning and long-term storage up to 3 months.
Acid Balance Technique 🍋
Add lemon juice gradually and taste as you go to achieve the perfect bright, balanced flavor without overwhelming the basil.