This delicious homemade pesto is bursting with basil leaf flavor balanced by buttery pine nuts, fresh garlic, and earthy olive oil. Here is everything you need to know to make the best basil pesto sauce in just a few minutes! It's the perfect addition to all of your favorite Italian dishes.
Place the pine nuts in a small frying pan over medium heat. Cook, occasionally tossing, until light golden brown, toasted, and fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Allow them to cool slightly and place them in the food processor.
Add the basil leaves into a food processor with all of the pine nuts, parmesan cheese, garlic cloves, and salt. Pulse until the ingredients are finely chopped but not quite a paste.
Remove the lid and slowly pour half in the olive oil and pulse the ingredients together until it's mixed well. For a more liquid style pesto add the remainder olive oil and pulse again to mix.
Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as desired.
Notes
Originally posted April 30, 2020Updated January 25, 2023