Classic Basil Pesto

Name: Classic Basil Pesto
Ingredients: 1/3 cups Walnuts (You Could Also Use Pine Nuts. I Just Love How It Tastes With Walnuts.); 3 cups Fresh Basil Leaves, Packed; 3 cloves Garlic, Minced; 1/2 cups Extra Virgin Olive Oil; 1/2 cups Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese; 2-1/2 teaspoons Fresh Lemon Juice; 1/4 teaspoons Lemon Zest; 1 pinch Sea Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper

8 ingredients

5 steps

Ingredients

1/3 cups Walnuts (You Could Also Use Pine Nuts. I Just Love How It Tastes With Walnuts.)
3 cups Fresh Basil Leaves, Packed
3 cloves Garlic, Minced
1/2 cups Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 cups Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
2-1/2 teaspoons Fresh Lemon Juice
1/4 teaspoons Lemon Zest
1 pinch Sea Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Directions

1

This makes 1 cup pesto.
2

If the walnuts are not already chopped, roughly chop them. Combine the basil and the nuts in a food processor. Pulse a few times to combine. Add the garlic and pulse a few more times.
3

Using the processor's feed tube, slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream, while the food processor is on. Be sure to stop and scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula if a lot of pesto is being left out.
4

Add the cheese and pulse again, until blended. Add the lemon juice, zest, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Pulse a few more times to combine.
5

Tip: Pesto freezes really well! I like to pour its basil goodness into an ice cube tray and after the cubes freeze, I store them in a bag for neat little serving-size pesto packages.