How to Quickly Make a Fresh Basil Pesto
Recipe Ingredients:
- 2 cups of packed fresh basil (do not use the thick stems, use only leaves or tender stems)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1/4 cup of pine nuts
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Romano or Parmesan-Reggiano cheese
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Recipe Directions:
- In a food processor, pulse the basil and pine nuts together several times.
- Add Garlic, pulse several times
- Add Cheese, pulse several times (skip this part if you plan on freezing the pesto. Cheese does not freeze well and you can add after you defrost before serving).
- Add Olive Oil, pulse several times
- Serve immediately over pasta, spaghetti squash, or zucchini noodles
- You can add scallops, shrimp or chicken to add some protein to the dish
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves (optional)
- Top with red pepper flakes for a bit of spicy kick (optional)
Buon Appetito!
XO,
Photos by Alley Leto
