Basil Pesto
Basil pesto is a fresh, aromatic, insanely flavorful sauce. It's light, refreshing, summery and couldn't be easier to make with a handful of fresh ingredients. Watch my video above to see how quickly it comes together!
Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup olive oil or more as needed
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup raw pine nuts
- ¼ cup raw cashews
- 2 cup packed basil leaves
- 3 garlic cloves
- ½ tsp salt
- black pepper to taste
- ¼ cup Parmigiano Reggiano optional
Instructions
- Toast the pine nuts and cashews in a skillet on medium-low heat for 5 minutes, tossing gently. Then place them in your food processor or blender.
- Add the remaining pesto ingredients to the blender. If using a food processor, pulse until the ingredients are mixed. If using a blender, slowly turn the speed to high and use the tamper to push the ingredients into the blades until the pesto is smooth and creamy.
Video
Notes
- Toasting the pine nuts and cashews is optional, but it does add a wonderful flavor to the pesto.
- The Vitamix model I use is the Ascent 3500 and I definitely recommend it. Make sure to check out all my other Vitamix Recipes as well.
Nutrition
Serving: 2tbsp | Calories: 90kcal | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 78mg | Potassium: 29mg | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.3mg