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a clear jar of pesto sauce and a spoonful of pesto. around the jar are some garlic cloves, wooden bowls, pine nuts and fresh basil.

Pesto alla Genovese (Basil Pesto Recipe)

Basil pesto is one of the most famous Italian sauces in the world. Wether you want to add it to your pasta or spread it on a sandwich, this recipe is for you.
4.89 from 9 votes
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Course: Sauce
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 1344kcal
Author: Guido Pedrelli

Ingredients

  • 2 cups basil about 70 leaves, fresh
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup Parmigiano Reggiano freshly grated (Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano)
  • 2 tablespoons Pecorino grated (Pecorino Fiore Sardo)
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts toasted if possible
  • Salt to taste about ½ to 1 tsp

Instructions

Instructions for Food Processor

  • Put the basil leaves, garlic cloves, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese into a food processor. Then pulse the processor for a few seconds to coarsely chop all the ingredients.
  • Add the Pecorino cheese. Then pulse again to incorporate it into the pesto until the mixture is finely minced.
  • With the processor still running add the olive oil in a very slow but steady stream. The pesto will become smooth and creamy. This process will take a few minutes.
  • Taste the finished pesto one last time and add salt if needed.

Instructions for Mortar and Pestle

  • Pound the garlic cloves together with just a pinch of salt with the mortar and pestle until it’s a chunky paste.
  • Add the basil leaves in 3 batches pounding them together with the garlic with each addition until a paste forms.
  • Add the pine nuts and grind them into the paste until well combined.
  • Add the cheese a third at a time pounding and grinding it into the pesto before adding the next third.
  • Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the olive oil at a time into the mortar and then pound it into the sauce with the pestle. For ½ cup of oil that means that you will do this 8 times. Once all the oil has been added the pesto should be a creamy emulsified mixture.
Serving: 30g | Calories: 1344kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 138g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g | Monounsaturated Fat: 87g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 927mg | Potassium: 341mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2970IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 799mg | Iron: 4mg
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