Pesto

Name: Pesto
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 1-1/4 cup
Cuisine: Europe, Italian
Ingredients: 2 cups loosely packed basil leaves; 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 2 garlic cloves, halved; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted; 1/2 cup olive oil

Total Time Prep/Total Time: 10 min.

Yield 1-1/4 cup

Test Kitchen Approved

The best way to celebrate fresh basil is to turn it into fresh pesto. We'll show you how in our pesto recipe, and we'll share our tips for choosing the right ingredients.

Ingredients

2 cups loosely packed basil leaves
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves, halved
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/2 cup olive oil

Directions

Place basil, cheese, garlic and salt in a food processor; cover and pulse until chopped. Add nuts; cover and process until blended. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Store in an airtight container in the freezer up to 1 year.

Nutrition Facts

2 tablespoons: 161 calories, 17g fat (2g saturated fat), 3mg cholesterol, 132mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.

This versatile pesto boasts a perfect basil flavor. Pair it with pasta and you've got a classic Italian dinner. —Iola Egle, Bella Vista, Arkansas

Recipe Creator