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Recipes Preserves & Condiments No. 09

Classic Basil Pesto

Made with your own basil, this is a different thing entirely from anything in a jar. Bright, fresh, intensely green.

Grows from BasilGarlic
Classic Basil Pesto
Fig. 01 · Classic Basil Pesto Preserves & Condiments
Serves
8
Prep
10m
0
Difficulty
Easy
In season

Make big batches in August when basil is abundant. Freeze in ice cube trays: a cube into pasta sauce all winter.

What you'll need

Ingredients

Serves 8
  • large bunch fresh basil
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
  • 1/2 cup parmesan, grated
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup good olive oil
  • pinch salt

How it comes together

Method

  1. Toast pine nuts in a dry pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, shaking often, until golden. Watch closely: they burn fast.

  2. Combine basil, pine nuts, garlic and parmesan in a food processor. Pulse until roughly chopped.

  3. With the motor running, drizzle in the olive oil until you reach your preferred consistency.

  4. Season with salt. Taste and adjust: more parmesan for richness, more basil for freshness.

  5. Store in a jar with a thin layer of olive oil on top to prevent browning. Keeps 1 week refrigerated.

From the kitchen

Tips

  • Blanch the basil in boiling water for 10 seconds then shock in ice water before using. It keeps the pesto vivid green for much longer.

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