How To Make Pesto (Tips and 15 Recipes)

The majority of pesto ingredients are easily found in your kitchen. If not found, you can get them from the closest grocery stores. So, take a look at them and gather accordingly. 

Fresh Basil Leaves

Basil is a base for the pesto. Fresh leaves give a bright green color along with an aromatic fragrance that literally makes you drool. Always choose bright green leaves with no trace of any dark spots. One can also make pesto with parsley, spinach, or mint leaves.

Pine Nuts

They look small but can take the peso to a whole new level. Pine brings a buttery and creaminess to the pesto. Pine is not in stock? No worries! Use walnuts, almonds, cashews, or sunflower seeds. 

Parmesan

It adds a slightly salty and creamy flavor to the pesto. Before adding, grate the cheese using a grater. Use around 12 months old cheese. Want to make vegan pesto? Then use plant-based cheese or nutritional yeast. 

Olive Oil

Olive oil binds all the ingredients together. As a result, it gives a smooth texture to the pesto. Olive oil’s quality has a great influence on the taste. So it is good to use the best extra virgin ones. Alternatively one can use any vegetable oil.

Garlic

Fresh garlic cloves are a must for the best flavor. It gives a touch of pungent and spicy kick to the sauce. Peel off the skin before use. 

Seasonings 

• Salt: A pinch of salt is all it needs to make the pesto from something lacking to Oh it's delicious. Use sea salt or kosher salt for better results. 
• Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a hint of a subtle spicy taste to the pesto sauce. 
• Lemon Juice: Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the ingredients before blending. It introduces a slight tangy taste to the pesto. 

Tools Needed

• Food Processor or blender
• Knife and cutting board
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Grater (to grate cheese)
• Spatula
• Airtight containers

Basil pesto is versatile and literally goes well with any dish. Anyone can make this pesto sauce recipe with some guidance. It is that easy.

So look for the ingredient measurements and read the steps carefully. Oh yeah, don’t miss out on the tips in those steps to make your pesto sauce even better. 

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup pine nuts (or walnuts, almonds, etc.)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

The above-mentioned measurement gives a cup of pesto sauce. So, adjust the ingredients accordingly.

Step 1: Rinse the Basil Leaves

Unpack those freshly bought basil leaves and put them in a bowl or mesh. Green leaves normally have some impurities or dirt that are not visible directly. So, rinse the leaves nicely under the cold water. 2 rounds of wash is enough. 

Here’s a tip. You can blanch the leaves for a brighter green color. The pesto might lose its vibrant color after a few hours of making so, blanching secures the green texture for a longer time. 

To blanch: Simply put the basil leaves in boiling water and leave them alone for 50 seconds or 1 minute. Then drain the leaves and submerge in the ice water. If the plan is to use pesto immediately, you can skip the blanching part.  

Step 2: Prepare the Other Ingredients

Here you need to prepare the pine nuts, garlic, and cheese. First start with pine nuts. Instead of using raw pine nuts, roast them in a pan. It won’t take much time though. 

Put the pan to heat and add ⅓ cup of pine nuts or the substitute options, then roast until lightly golden and gives a nice fragrance. Frequent stirring is the key to this. Otherwise, the nuts could get burnt and result in a bitter taste. 

Second, move towards grating the parmesan cheese or vegan one you choose to go with.

You just need to find a grater from your kitchen and then grate the cheese with it. You will need around ¼ cup of grated cheese. And then peel the garlic’s skin. Use around 2 garlic cloves. 

Step 3: Combine the Ingredients 

When done preparing ingredients, it is time to introduce the blender or food processor. Clean the blender’s mug cause sanitation is important. 

Now, add all ingredients to that blender. Start with basil leaves, then move towards grated parmesan cheese, toasted nuts, minced garlic, lemon juice (1 tablespoon), Salt (½ teaspoon), olive oil (½ cup), and black pepper (¼ teaspoon). 

Step 4: Blend the Ingredients

With added ingredients, run the blender and allow the ingredients to blend well. Here, the exact time for blending depends on the type of consistency you want in pesto. So, let the device do its mixing job until you get the desired texture. 

Here’s a Tip: Don’t continuously run the blender. Stop it in between and scrape down the sides using a rubber spatula. This makes sure that everything is blended evenly.  

Step 5: Adjust the Seasonings

Sometimes we tend to make mistakes while measuring seasonings like salt or pepper. The outcome doesn’t turn out as we expected. So, testing the pesto is a must.

This way you get to know if seasonings need to be adjusted. If needed, adjust salt and pepper then blend well. 

Step 6: Serve or Store

When done with testing and adjusting, transfer the pesto to a bowl. Now you can enjoy the savory sauce with pasta or any dish of choice. Or put the sauce in the fridge or freezer for longer use.

In case you might be wondering if basil is the only green leaf to make pesto, here is the answer. Besides basil, you can use other options to make refreshing pesto. Let’s look at those variations: 

• Spinach Pesto: Are you looking for a greener and nutritional-packed option? Spinach is all you need. Use this green leafy and make your pesto more creamy in texture. 
• Mint Pesto: Refreshing mint is perfect for spring or summertime. Blend in the mint and toss the pesto with pasta. 
• Cilantro Pesto: Elevate the freshness by making pesto with cilantro leaves. Sprinkle some lemon juice for a bright and zesty kick. 
• Kale Pesto: This one is for health-conscious ones. Antioxidant-filled kale gives the pesto a deep and earthy flavor. Replace dairy cheese with a tablespoon of yeast for a vegan pesto. 
• Ramp Pesto: It’s a wild garlic or wild leeks. Make this wild leafy a base for pesto and toss it over the toasted bread. 
• Parsley Pesto: This super versatile green herb indeed gives an earthy flavor to the pesto. One can use the pesto as a sandwich spread or topping for roasted veggies. 

Note: The process for making those pesto recipes is the same as that of basil pesto. So you can look for the steps in the previous block.

Leaving pesto at room temperature leads to its spoilage. And letting this happen doesn’t sound like a fair deal. So, learn how to store the pesto to keep it fresh for a longer time: 

Refrigeration

Get a sanitized container and fill that container with the pesto sauce. Proceed to close the lid tightly and pop it in the refrigerator.

Here's a tip: You can pour a thin layer of olive oil on the sauce before the lid. This keeps the pesto fresh and flavorful for longer. This prevents the potential oxidation in the sauce. As a result, the bright green color will be there. 

Freezing

A freezer is the best choice for storing pesto for a longer time. There are two ways to freeze pesto. The first is to simply place the airtight container inside the freezer. 

The second or alternative way is the use of ice cube trays. Portion the pesto into an ice cube tray. Next, put the tray in the freezer and allow the sauce to freeze.

When pesto freezes, take the tray out and gather pesto cubes in freezer bags. Ensure you tightly seal the bags and keep them in the freezer. That way basil pesto sauce lasts for months. 

Thawing

When ready to use frozen pesto, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature for a few hours. Stir well before serving.

Pesto indeed looks delightful but eating it alone is unfair to it. There are a ton of pesto recipes to try. Here are the most popular ones:

1. Pesto Pasta

The pasta itself is a classic Italian dish. Make pesto pasta with fresh basil pesto and your favorite pasta type. This pesto pasta combo is more than enough to satisfy your cravings. 

2. Pesto Chicken

This versatile dish goes well with anything. Pesto sauce is one. You just need to spread the pesto over the chicken and leave it to bake or grill. And then boom, a delicious snack gets ready!

3. Pesto Pizza

Take pizza night to the next level, even, with a base of aromatic basil pesto on a golden crust. Just top with creamy mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, and grilled chicken. Bake until the cheese melts to perfection and the crust is crispy.

4. Pesto Caprese Salad

Picture fresh tomatoes, milky mozzarella, and fragrant leaves of basil combined together in a brightly colored Caprese salad. Drizzle some fresh pesto on top. The mere twirl brings an enhanced basil flavor to the classic salad. 

5. Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms

Here’s a tasty idea for a snack! Take some mushroom caps and a spoon of pesto. Continue to sprinkle breadcrumbs and cheese on top, then bake. The result? A mouthwatering pesto-stuffed mushroom that’s sure to impress!

6. Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Take your grilled cheese to the next level! Pretty simple, the way to go is merely smearing some pesto on the inside of the bread, then layering it with slices of your favorite cheese. Grilling or baking-your call.

7. Pesto Quinoa Salad

Cook a healthy lunch of salad in a bowl full of flavor. Give a bit of effort, mix pesto with cooked quinoa, and you have a colorful salad of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers.

8. Pesto Zucchini Noodles

Why not go for a healthy lunch treat? Sauteed zucchini noodles, when coated in aromatic pesto, let you and your body receive a source of energy. This dish offers a satisfying mix of flavors and textures. 

9. Pesto Bruschetta

This bruschetta has a base of golden brown, crispy baguette slices toasted to perfection. To serve, top it with a colorful mixture of diced tomatoes, previously infused with garlic and basil pesto. Top with a swirl of balsamic glaze and some fresh leaves of basil.

10. Pesto Vegetable Skewers

Skewer cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and zucchini, then coat them in basil pesto before grilling. The heat brings out their flavors, giving you deliciously charred edges and tender insides. Perfect for any barbecue or summer party!

11. Tuna Salad Wrap

Do you know what happens when you add pesto to tuna wrap? A burst of freshness. Warp it up in a tortilla and there you have a light and yet delightful lunch ready. 

12. Pesto Asparagus Noodles

Make your favorite noodles a healthy one. Add freshly made pesto and sauteed asparagus to the noodles. That way you can enjoy flavors and also fuel the body with essentials. 

13. Pesto Street Corn

Grilled corn is great. But grilled corn with pesto? That’s just the next level. Imagine sweet, smoky corn slathered in pesto. It is enough to keep your tastebuds excited. It’s a summer BBQ must-have.

14. Pesto Pork Chops

Juicy pork chops taste even better when it meets the refreshing flavor of basil pesto. Use the pesto sauce for dipping the chops or you can spread over it. This is one of the best ways to use pesto with chops. 

15. Pesto Salmon

Pesto and salmon are a match made in heaven. The flaky salmon is coated in herb-packed pesto and then baked until it’s perfectly tender. It’s a fresh and light meal that feels luxurious without any hassle.