Pesto
Pesto is an Italian sauce made from pine nuts, Parmesan and basil. It's very simple but quite delicious, and goes particularly well with pasta.
15 min.
Easy
300 g
10 IngredientsLast modified on: July 25th 2020
150 g pine nuts
1 
3 bunches Basil
1 
4 tablespoons 
100 g Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)
2 g 
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 10 min.
Cooking: 5 min.
All in all: 15 min.
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 5 min.
Put 150 g pine nuts in a pan without any oil. Dry roast briefly over high heat, stirring frequently.
Set aside.
Set aside.
Stage 2 - 5 min.
Stage 3 - 2 min.
Stage 4 - 1 min.
Mix to get a basil puree.
Stage 5 - 1 min.
Add pine nuts, garlic, 100 g Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano) grated, 5 tablespoons olive oil salt and pepper...
Stage 6 - 1 min.
... and mix again until you obtain the texture of a thick puree.
Do not hesitate to adapt the quantity of olive oil, more or less, the important thing is to obtain the desired texture.
Do not hesitate to adapt the quantity of olive oil, more or less, the important thing is to obtain the desired texture.
Stage 7
Stage 8
Store in the fridge in a closed jar.
Remarks
In this recipe the proportions are not all that important, so you can vary them (a little more, a little less) according to your taste. If you are fond of garlic, for example, you can double the quantity indicated.
It's not absolutely necessary to roast the pine nuts, but I find that it gives the pesto a richer flavour.
If you don't have any pine nuts, you can use walnuts instead.
The basil which gives the green color tends to oxidize easily, and therefore lose this beautiful color. To keep it better, add, before blending, the vitamin c.
It's not absolutely necessary to roast the pine nuts, but I find that it gives the pesto a richer flavour.
If you don't have any pine nuts, you can use walnuts instead.
The basil which gives the green color tends to oxidize easily, and therefore lose this beautiful color. To keep it better, add, before blending, the vitamin c.
Keeping: Several days in the fridge, in a closed jar.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 60 RDI=20 % | 40 RDI=4 % | 250 RDI=40 % | 2,700 RDI=140 % | 11,310 RDI: 140 % |
| Per 100 g | 10 RDI=4 % | 7 RDI=1 % | 50 RDI=7 % | 490 RDI=20 % | 2,040 RDI: 20 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 300 g : $14.95
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
Some other recipes using this recipeSee them all 14
Olive and pesto bread
This bread with olives and pesto has a very Italian flavour: a ciabatta dough, herbes de Provence and green olives. The loaf is baked in a tin, with a thin layer of pesto spread in the middle between two pieces of dough, and green olives (with stones removed) pressed into the top.
74 K3.8 3 hours 60 min.
Spinach and Mushrooms with Pesto
For this simple recipe, thinly sliced and sautéed mushrooms, accompanied by cooked spinach, are combined with a pesto sauce.
18 K 20 min.
New Italian-style peas
For this recipe, new peas mixed with rice, drizzled with olive oil and served with a little pesto.
3,324 35 min.
Italian toast
These Italian toasts are slices of fried bread with pesto, omelette and cooked tomatoes, garnished with a basil leaf.
104 K 14 50 min.
Genoese croque-monsieur
Here is an Italian version of the famous French toasted sandwich: a croque-monsieur from Genoa. The two slices of fried bread hold together scrambled egg, pesto and grated Parmesan.
66 K 25 min.
This recipe uses (among others)
Pine nuts
Like these other recipes: Greek Pesto, Greek-style stuffed courgettes, Spinach and ricotta ravioli, Chocolate mendiants, Mint and pea pesto, ... See them all 9
Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)
Like these other recipes: Seb's Italian-style aperitif slices, Zucchini and potato scarpaccia, Mint and pea pesto, Creamy risotto with vegetables , Spinach and ricotta ravioli, ... See them all 58
Olive oil
Like these other recipes: Provençal braised carrots, Paella, Polenta, Tomato and courgette tart, Express chilli con carne, ... See them all 520
Basil
Like these other recipes: Spaghetti with mussels and basil, Zucchini and tomato remoulade, Quick flaky pizza, Creamy risotto with vegetables , Green beans with feta cream and basil, ... See them all 14
Other recipes you may also like
Chestnut cake
This delightful cake is doubly chestnutty: it contains chestnut flour, and sweet chestnut purée.May 8th 2020339 K5 1 hour 15 min.
Fruit crumble
A fruit pudding: very easy to do and delicious: just a layer of fruit with a golden crunchy topping.February 21th 2011360 K4.0 1 hour 15 min.
Epiphany galette
Here is the recipe for the very classic but delicious "galette des rois" (Epiphany galette) in puff or flaky pastry (pâte feuilletée) with almond cream or frangipane . You will also see some professional tips to easily handle the dough, and obtain a nice and regular galette.January 1st 2025295 K 24.5 3 hours 8 min.
Caramelised apple pie
Apple pie made with caramelised apples.September 11th 2018261 K4.3 1 hour 55 min.
Toasted almond cake
A layer cake, with toasted almonds in the chocolate part.July 5th 2016244 K4.4 2 hours 2 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-06-08)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.
The 2 comments already posted on this recipe