Simple Pesto with Basil and Nuts Recipe
This easy pesto recipe combines toasted pine nuts or cashews with fresh basil, parmesan, garlic, and olive oil for a flavorful, versatile sauce perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or dips. Made quickly with either a mini chopper or a pestle and mortar, this homemade pesto delivers fresh, vibrant taste and can be stored for up to three days in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: Makes about 150ml pesto, enough for 4 servings 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 50g pine nuts or cashews
- Large bunch of fresh basil leaves, picked
- 50g parmesan cheese or vegetarian alternative, grated
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- 100ml olive oil
Instructions
- Toast the nuts: Heat a pan over low heat and lightly toast the pine nuts or cashews, stirring frequently to prevent burning, until golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Combine ingredients: Place the toasted nuts, fresh basil leaves, parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), chopped garlic, and olive oil into a mini chopper or large pestle and mortar.
- Blend or pound: Blitz the mixture in the mini chopper or pound with the pestle and mortar until you achieve a rough, slightly chunky sauce texture.
- Store and serve: Transfer the pesto to a clean jar or container. It will keep for up to three days when refrigerated. Use it as a sauce for pasta, a spread for bread, or a dip to add fresh flavor to your dishes.
Notes
- You can substitute pine nuts with cashews for a slightly different but equally delicious flavor and creaminess.
- If you don’t have a mini chopper, using a pestle and mortar will still give a great rustic texture.
- Keep the pesto refrigerated and ideally consume it within three days for best freshness and flavor.
- Add a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten the flavor if desired.
- Use vegetarian parmesan alternatives to keep it suitable for vegetarian diets.
Keywords: pesto, basil pesto, homemade pesto, easy pesto sauce, Italian sauce, pine nuts, cashews, garlic sauce, vegetarian sauce
