How to Turn Basil into Pesto

Pesto is an easy-to-create sauce that can turn an ordinary dish into a diner’s delight. A mix of basil, garlic and olive oil, it has a distinct, but mild flavor that is a great accompaniment to pasta, chicken and fish and can also be used as a stand-alone spread.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Food processor
• Basil
• Garlic
• Pine nuts (optional)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Parmesan cheese

How to Turn Basil into Pesto

1. Grow basil. Sure, you can purchase it at the grocery store, but with a little sun and soil, and even less attention, anyone can produce a healthy crop.

2. Harvest it. Cut off the tops of the plant, leaving the rest to grow new sprouts.

3. Wash the basil and clip off the leaves. Use about 2 cups of firmly packed leaves.

4. Put the basil in the food processor. Add four cloves of peeled garlic and a handful of pine nuts (optional) and blend.

5. Drizzle in about a ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil, blending as you add it.

6. Add ½ cup of Parmesan cheese. Blend until mixture is pureed.

7. Use immediately. Save in the refrigerator for not more than one week or freeze the remainder.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many variations on pesto sauces. Try adding sun-dried tomatoes to the above, for added flavor and color.

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