Basil Pesto Recipe

Pesto is one of my favorite condiments to keep on hand. Try these easy, fun pesto recipe variations to brighten pasta, salads, roasted veggies & more!

One of my favorite things about summer is the bounty of fresh herbs that are just outside my doorstep. Fresh herbs make any meal instantly more flavorful and beautiful. My favorite thing to do with all of those fresh herbs (aside from sprinkle them on everything) is to make pesto! It’s especially great for lazy summertime cooking. I like to dollop it on grilled vegetables, pasta, spaghetti squash, salads, eggs, toasted bread, pizza, sandwiches… you get the idea. With just a few easy steps, it makes anything an instant tasty meal whether you feel like cooking or not.

What is pesto, and how do I make it?

Traditional pesto is a blend of fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, extra-virgin olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. With a food processor, it comes together in just a few steps:

1. Pulse the nuts, lemon juice, and garlic in the food processor until they’re finely chopped.
2. Add the basil and pulse again.
3. Next, drizzle in the olive oil with the food processor blade still running.
4. Finally, add grated Parmesan cheese and process briefly until combined. For vegan pesto, simply skip the cheese.

That’s it! It’s really simple to make, and it’s easy to vary according to the season or your mood. It will keep for a few days in an airtight container in the fridge, though its surface may start turning brown. As a result, it’s best to cover your pesto with a thin layer of plastic wrap before sealing your container. This will keep it fresh and green!

Pesto Recipe Variations

Once you’ve made the classic basil pesto recipe, try changing it up! You can make delicious variations with all sorts of nuts, seeds, veggies, and leafy greens. Here are some of my favorites…

• Swap out the pine nuts for any nut of your choice! I particularly like walnuts and pistachios.
• Make nut-free pesto by using pepitas or hemp seeds.
• Use any herb or leafy green. I like a combination of parsley & cilantro, or use part basil and part arugula. Finely chopped kale leaves are also a great combination with basil!
• Don’t let your veggie stems go to waste. Blanch kale stems and blend them into pesto with basil leaves or another herb.
• Punch up the flavor! Add a roasted red pepper, sun dried tomatoes, a charred jalapeño, artichoke hearts, etc.

There possibilities are endless – let me know if you have a favorite variation!

I made pesto! Now what do I do with it?

The obvious choice is tossing pesto with pasta, but your options don’t stop there. Add it to a quinoa salad or a Caprese salad, top it onto a grain bowl, scoop it onto spaghetti squash or mac and cheese, or incorporate it into this yummy baked zucchini dish.

Basil Pesto

rate this recipe:

4.97 from 145 votes

Prep Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 5 mins

Serves 1 cup

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A classic basil pesto recipe, plus many more variations to try!

Ingredients

Basic Basil Pesto:

• 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 small garlic clove
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups basil leaves
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, more for a smoother pesto
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, optional

Variation: replace the basil with:

• Mint
• Cilantro
• Parsley
• Spinach

Variation: replace half the basil with:

• 1 cup arugula
• 1 cup chopped kale
• 1 cup cubed raw zucchini
• 4 artichoke hearts
• 1 roasted red pepper
• 1/2 an avocado
• 1/2 cup kale stems, boil until soft

Variation: replace the pine nuts with:

• Walnuts
• Pistachios
• Almonds
• Pecans
• Pepitas
• Hemp Seeds

Variation: for something extra, add:

• Nutritional yeast, in place of the parmesan
• Pinches of red pepper flakes
• 1 charred jalapeño
• 2 to 4 sun dried tomatoes
• Splash of honey or maple syrup, if your pesto is too sharp

Instructions

• In a food processor, combine the pine nuts, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, and pulse until well chopped.
• Add the basil and pulse until combined.
• With the food processor running, drizzle in the olive oil and pulse until combined. Add the parmesan cheese, if using, and pulse to briefly combine. For a smoother pesto, add more olive oil.