Best Basic Pesto Sauce Recipes

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BASIC PESTO SAUCE



Basic Pesto Sauce image

The key to making creamy pesto is to add the ingredients to the food processor in the right order to ensure that the nuts break down to a fine paste before the greens have a chance to turn brown. Use basic basil pesto as a pasta sauce, or thin it out with a little olive oil to drizzle it over steak, chicken, fish, pizza or tomato salad. The mint-pistachio variation is inspired by the chef Travis Lett, of Gjelina in Venice, Calif.

Provided by Samin Nosrat

Categories     quick, sauces and gravies, side dish

Time 20m

Yield 1 2/3 cups

Number Of Ingredients 6

1/2 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves
2 cups packed basil leaves (2 1/2 ounces/75 grams, from 1 big bunch or 2 small bunches)
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (3 ounces/85 grams)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste

Steps:

  • Pulse pine nuts in a food processor until they're completely broken down. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula from time to time. Add olive oil and garlic and pulse until garlic is finely chopped.
  • Chop basil very roughly - just run a knife through it once or twice to cut most of the leaves into halves or thirds - then add to food processor. Pulse, stopping every 15 seconds to push the leaves down with a rubber spatula, until basil is entirely worked into the oil. Pulse for another few seconds, and then stop to prevent turning the basil brown.
  • Pour pesto base into a bowl and add grated cheese and salt. Stir to combine, then taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Leave the sauce thick to toss with cooked pasta and a little pasta cooking water. To use the pesto as a garnish for grilled or roasted meats, fish and vegetables, thin it out with 2 to 3 more tablespoons olive oil until it's the consistency of a loose paste. To store leftovers, pour a little more olive oil over the pesto to cover. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three days.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 168, UnsaturatedFat 13 grams, Carbohydrate 1 gram, Fat 17 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 88 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams

PESTO



Pesto image

Basic pesto, made with basil, olive oil, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese. This recipe differs from the classic preparation by the addition of parsley. You can add a little extra Parmesan to the mixture if you like.

Provided by ANDERVAL

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes

Time 5m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 6

3 cups packed fresh basil leaves
4 cloves garlic
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup pine nuts
½ cup chopped fresh parsley

Steps:

  • Combine basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and nuts in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Blend to a smooth paste. Add parsley if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 91.5 calories, Carbohydrate 1 g, Cholesterol 3.3 mg, Fat 9 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 2.3 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 59.1 mg, Sugar 0.1 g

PESTO SAUCE



Pesto Sauce image

Quick and easy pesto to top your pasta. A great change from red sauce.

Provided by sal

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes     Pasta Sauce Recipes

Time 20m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 6

3 cups fresh basil leaves
1 ½ cups chopped walnuts
4 cloves garlic, peeled
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

  • In a food processor, blend together basil leaves, nuts, garlic, and cheese. Pour in oil slowly while still mixing. Stir in salt and pepper.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 199.4 calories, Carbohydrate 2 g, Cholesterol 1.1 mg, Fat 21.1 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 2.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.8 g, Sodium 20 mg, Sugar 0.3 g

BASIC PESTO



Basic Pesto image

Pesto is a mouthful of bright summer - basil made more so. You can buy it in a jar or in the refrigerator section of your grocery story, but there is nothing better than making it yourself. Fresh basil can be found in abundance at farmers' markets in the summer. Just clean, take the stems off and throw the leaves in a food processor with nuts and garlic. Dribble in the oil and you've got a versatile sauce for pasta, chicken or fish.

Provided by Florence Fabricant

Categories     easy, quick, condiments, editors' pick

Time 15m

Yield 2 cups

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 cups fresh basil leaves (no stems)
2 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts
2 large cloves garlic
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Combine basil leaves, pine nuts or walnuts and garlic in a food processor and process until very finely minced.
  • With the machine running slowly dribble in the oil and process until the mixture is smooth.
  • Add the cheese and process very briefly, just long enough to combine. Store in refrigerator or freezer.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 82, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 1 gram, Fat 8 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 49 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams

BASIC PESTO



Basic Pesto image

Traditionally pesto is made in a mortar and pestle and it takes both time and force to pound nuts, garlic, basil and oil into a creamy emulsified sauce. The food processor has certainly shortened the process, but it's still important to slowly stream in the oil to create a smooth, vibrant sauce. Stirring in the Parmesan cheese at the end will thicken the pesto a bit and add extra seasoning.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 10m

Yield about 2 cups of pesto

Number Of Ingredients 6

8 cups packed fresh basil
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
2 to 4 cloves garlic
Kosher salt
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Pulse the basil, pine nuts, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor or blender until the basil is finely chopped.
  • With the machine running, gradually add the olive oil and puree until emulsified. Stir in the Parmesan. To store, transfer to a container, cover and refrigerate up to 5 days.

BASIL PESTO



Basil Pesto image

Keep this basic Basil Pesto recipe from Food Network Kitchen in your arsenal and use it for topping pasta, fish, chicken, pizza and more.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 5m

Yield 1 cup

Number Of Ingredients 6

2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup pine nuts
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino cheese

Steps:

  • Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
  • If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.
  • If freezing, transfer to an air-tight container and drizzle remaining oil over the top. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and stir in cheese.

CLASSIC PESTO



Classic Pesto image

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

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 10m

Yield 1 cup.

Number Of Ingredients 6

4 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

Steps:

  • Place the 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 : Calories 196 calories, Fat 19g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 4mg cholesterol, Sodium 152mg sodium, Carbohydrate 3g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 5g protein.

QUICK & SIMPLE PESTO (CLASSIC PESTO RECIPE) SAUCE



Quick & Simple Pesto (Classic Pesto Recipe) Sauce image

This is a pretty easy recipe for a classic pesto sauce. It can be served with pasta for "Pasta & Pesto" or spread on toasted Italian bread or on sandwiches and salads... You can blend it into bread or muffin mix. You can make Pesto Pizza. You can even add heavy cream if you desire a "creamy pesto sauce". The key is to use only FRESH BASIL. Note: Pine nuts are AKA Pignoli Nuts

Provided by BlondieItaliana

Categories     Spreads

Time 10m

Yield 1 1/4 cups

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 cups basil leaves (fresh leaves only & firmly packed 2 cups)
3/4 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
3/4 cup olive oil (I use Extra-Virgin)
3 garlic cloves
1/4 cup pine nuts

Steps:

  • Combine all ingredients in blender or food processor & cover.
  • Blend on medium speed about 3 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape sides, until smooth.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1628.5, Fat 166.2, SaturatedFat 29.7, Cholesterol 52.8, Sodium 927.3, Carbohydrate 12, Fiber 3.4, Sugar 2, Protein 31.6

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