Fresh Basil Pesto


I have been seeing a few pesto recipes being posted here and there, and no wonder- this is the time of year for fresh basil everything. My pesto has a little less oil and cheese than some recipes I have seen; I think it lets the bright flavor of the basil show through. 

Fresh Basil Pesto is delicious on pasta, breads, pizza, veggies, meats, and more. It's ready in almost no time- a few seconds in the food processor, and you're done!




Fresh Basil Pesto

Makes about 1 cup

2 cups fresh basil leaves (packed)
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons pine nuts, lightly toasted
2 teaspoons minced garlic (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

Chop the basil leaves in your food processor for a few seconds. Add the rest of the ingredients and process, checking frequently and scraping the sides if necessary, until the pesto is the desired texture. Mine took about 2 minutes, but my processor is old and tired. :) Your time may vary.

Pesto will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks. It may separate a little, 
but just give it a stir before using.

Print recipe





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76 comments:

  1. I love pesto....can't wait to make some!

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    1. It's one of my favorite things about summer, Deborah- fresh basil! Thank you for visiting from Three Dawg Lady Designs! :)

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  2. Hi Joy! Thank you so much for hosting today's party. That pesto looks absolutely divine! Happy Sunday and hope you have a wonderful week! Love, Cindy

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    1. Cindy, thank you for being the world's best guest AND hostess! ;)

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  3. I have a lot of fresh basil and was looking for a great pesto recipe. Will definitely try this one. Thanks for sharing

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    1. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! I'm so glad you came by- thanks! :)

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  4. Just in time, I was getting ready to Google a pesto recipe. Lots of basil in my back yard and I've never made pesto. Pinned.

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    1. I hope you enjoy all that fresh basil, Lea Ann! Thank you for stopping by- I'm glad to see you! :)

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  5. Found you on Sweet Tea Social Link Party. This recipe sounds fabulous! I have never made fresh pesto before, but always wanted to try. Here is a great recipe to start with. Thank you!

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    1. Great to hear from a fellow Texan- thanks for coming by! If you try this recipe, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

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  6. Yum...I love pesto! Unfortunately, my Basil is not doing so well this year. Yours looks gorgeous Joy :)

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    1. Lisa, thank you so much! I wish I could share some basil with you! :)

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  7. My daughter just loves pesto! We are growing some basil right now, I will have to see if there is some ready and whip this up for her dinner tonight!

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    1. Lucky daughter! :) Hope y'all enjoy it!

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  8. What a beautiful pesto. My basil was gorgeous one day and gone the next. No idea what happened to it.
    Dawn
    Spatulas On Parade

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    1. Maybe your neighbor loves pesto? ;) I'm just sayin'...

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  9. Replies
    1. Me, too, Desiree!! Thanks for coming by- I do appreciate it!

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  10. Beautiful photos! I love pesto, and I have a really big basil plant, so I am going to have to make this!

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    1. Thank you so much! If you try it, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by!

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  11. Love, love, love basil! <3 Stopping by from SGBC, pinning this to my recipe board!

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    1. Thank you, Krystal, and thanks for pinning! Love SGBC! :)

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  12. I love me a good pesto! I usually cheat and just buy the packs already made ;) but this looks easy enough for me to try!

    Chene via SGBC!

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    1. Chene, it is really easy (but sometimes I buy the ready-made stuff, too, lol!). Thank you for coming by, and thanks for all the work you put into SGBC! :)

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  13. Yum!!! Pesto is so so tasty. Love your recipe!! Stopping by from SGBC! xo

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    1. Thank you, Kirstin Marie! And thanks for coming by from SGBC! :)

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  14. Pesto is one of those things I look most forward to in the summer. And you are right--it is good on so many things. Thank you for linking this week with See Ya in the Gumbo, Joy!

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    1. Thanks, Michelle, and thanks for hosting! :)

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  15. Oh man, I love pesto so much! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks, Madison, and thanks for coming by! :)

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  16. What a lovely pesto. Even without all the oil, it looks fabulous! Thank you for sharing at Simple Supper Tuesday.

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    1. Thank you, Cindy, and thanks for hosting! :)

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  17. Hi and thanks for sharing this. My daughter loves pesto sauce and I will try this. I saw it on tuesday trivia.
    Julie from julieslifestyle.blogspot.com

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    1. Julie, if you try it I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! Thank you so much for coming by! :)

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  18. I just topped all of my basil the other day. I don't follow a recipe just add the basic ingredients until it's how I want it (always with a LOT of garlic too...)I ended up with about a quart of pesto!

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  19. Looks so yummy and easy! Found you through TX Women Bloggers...

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    1. Ali, it is yummy and easy! :) I'm really glad you stopped by from Texas Women Bloggers- always good to meet another Texan!

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  20. I love pesto! I have several basil plants and have always wanted to make my own pesto. Looks pretty easy. Will have to give it a try...found you at Family Home and Life's Linky Party....
    Linda
    mysewwhatblog.blogspot.com

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    1. Hi, Linda! It's very easy! :) If you try it I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! Thanks for coming over from Connie's linky party!!

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  21. So going to try this one! Thank you for spreading JOY and sharing at the Oh What a HAPPY Day party.

    Holly at Not Done Growing

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    1. Thank you, Holly, and thanks for hosting! :)

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  22. Mmm, basil pesto is summer to me, its fragrance unmatched. Thanks for sharing on Hearth & Soul Hop. :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Judy, and thanks for coming by! I always enjoy Hearth and Soul! :)

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  23. I love how fresh it looks! Delicious!

    Pinned it! Thanks for sharing with us at One Sharendipity Place this weekend!

    Krys @thet2women.com and www.worshipingwhilewaiting.com

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    1. Thank you, Krystle, and thanks for pinning! :)

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  24. Thank you Claire, and thanks for pinning! I love Best of the Weekend! :)

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  25. Oh, I love pesto!!!!! Thank you for sharing with Foodie Friends Friday! Have a great week!!! :-) Zannie @ mymixingspoon

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    1. Thank you, Zannie! I always have a good time at FFF! :)

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  26. YUM! I love homemade foods but pesto is my favorite.
    Thanks for sharing at Tuesdays with a Twist!
    Hope to see you again this week.

    http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/2013/07/tuesdays-with-twist-15.html

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  27. I just wanted to let you know that your recipe is featured in What's Cooking Wednesday this week! Thanks for stopping by! http://www.turningclockback.com/2013/07/whats-cooking-wednesday-recipe-linky-25.html

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    1. Thank you, Diane!! I always enjoy What's Cooking Wednesday! :)

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  28. My son loves fresh basil, I can't keep enough of it in the house. Thanks for sharing Thursdays Treasures, I'm featuring you this this week.

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    1. Thank you so much, Joan- I am really happy to be featured! :)

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  29. I just made this fantastic pesto! I only had enough basil leaves for half the recipe, but if my little plants keep on producing as I hope, another batch will soon be in the making. Thanks so much for sharing!

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    1. Susan, I am so happy that you tried and liked the pesto! Thanks for letting me know- that just makes my day! :)

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  30. Thanks for coming by Saturday Dishes.

    Linda @Tumbleweed Contessa

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  31. My husband loves Pesto, so I pinned to show to him to try. Thanks :)

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  32. This looks lovely Joy. I make up large batches of pesto and freeze them when my basil is going crazy. Can't wait to try your recipe!

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  33. Joy,

    Pesto is so good for you and so easy to make. I have recently started making it myself too. Your pesto look really good. I need to make some more. I made several batches of pasta with it, but my daughter said she wanted me to make some bruschetta.
    Blessings and sharing!
    Diane Roark

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  34. Love pesto and it's freezable too! I put mine in ice cube trays.

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  35. Ohh, so amazing! Thanks for this wonderful post, and the pictures are beautiful. Carrie, A Mother's Shadow

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  36. Yum! I love pesto - last year I made it with almonds and then tried it with walnuts which was my favorite. I might need to make a fresh batch as I to have plenty of basil growing. Finally the garden is doing great.
    Carole @ Garden Up Green

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  37. wow...this looks so darn good and I have to try this. Stopping by from #FullPlateThursday

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  38. Thanks for sharing at the parties @DearCreatives pinned & shared. Hope your having a great summer. I love pesto & know I'll be making some soon.

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  39. I adore pesto. Thanks for the recipe. Thanks for linking up at the Weekend Blog Hop at My Flagstaff Home!

    Jennifer

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  40. Fresh pesto is the best! Thanks for sharing this great recipe and for joining us at the #HomeMattersParty! Hope you'll link up with us again!

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  41. This sounds fantastic! I tried growing some basil this year, but it never sprouted :( Thanks for sharing on Weekend Bites

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  42. Oh Yum! I get so excited each week to see what you have been working on because it's always AMAZING! Thank you for sharing this with us. Pinned and tweeted. I hope to see you on Monday at 7 pm, so we can party!!!! Lou Lou Girls

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  43. I have lot of basil in my garden, I am going to try your version, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning. tweeting. and featuring on this week's hop.

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  44. Great way to use up all that basil growing in my garden. Thanks for sharing with us at Thursday Favorite Things :) Please join us again this week!

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  45. Yummy!! I just picked some Basil myself!! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Hope to see you again!! I love having you!! Pinned!!

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  46. This is a great idea and way to use some of my basil. :-) I have a potted herb garden, mainly just because I love the smells coming from it.

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  47. I think I could put pesto on pretty much anything. I looove it! I'm stopping by to let you know that you are being featured at Freedom Fridays this week! :)

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  48. We love pesto and can't wait to use the basil we're growing to make this. Thanks for sharing with Small Victories Sunday Linkup. Pinning to our linkup board and hope you found some great posts to visit this week!

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