5 Minute Easy Pesto Recipe
Pesto is a staple at our house and my easy pesto recipe is so full of flavour that It’s going to blow your mind!
5 minutes and 5 Simple ingredients, some of which you would already have in your kitchen right now! Thats all it takes to whip up this amazing sauce. So before you reach for that supermarket jar you need to read this post!
Why I love this easy pesto recipe
Pesto reminds me of Summer because every Summer we grow fresh basil thanks to my father inn law. The smell of freshly picked basil from the garden is divine.
The nights when It’s too hot to turn on the oven but you feel like something substantial theres nothing more satisfying than this easy pesto sauce tossed through spaghetti.
I love that you can enjoy pesto all year round because it freezes so well! A little bit of pesto goes a long way. After making a batch I divide the remaining into lined ice cube trays and freeze. All you need to do is pop out a few cubes into a frypan with a splash of water and cook until thawed. When weeknight dinner is concerned it does not get any easier!
What goes into pesto?
- Fresh basil; It’s so easy to grow fresh basil at home and its a fun activity to get your kids involved in planting, growing and picking the basil
- Pine nuts: Lightly toasting the pine nuts first, brings out the flavour in the nuts. You can experiment with different nuts such as walnuts, almond or pistachio.
- Garlic: only a small clove is needed and it gives a a big hit of flavour
- Parmesan cheese gives a creaminess and a saltiness to the pesto and It’s so delicious.
- Extra virgin olive oil: using a good quality olive oil is key! There is no set amount of olive oil in the recipe as if you want a thicker consistency you add less and for a runnier consistency you add more.
What can I use this easy pesto recipe for?
Another reason I love this easy pesto recipe is because Its so versatile and can be used to transform everyday dishes into something spectacular! Here are just a few ideas!
- One of our absolute favourites is spaghetti tossed through pesto and then topped with a fresh tomato salad. (Salad consists of chopped tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil)
- Pesto makes a great base for bruschetta
- Dollop some basil over your minestrone soup for an instant flavour hit!
- It’s great in sandwiches or wraps
- brushed over grilled vegetables
- Perfect addition to salads
- brushed over baked potatoes
- Stuff chicken with pesto and bocconcini for an extra flavour hit
- Served over grilled meat or fish
How long does pesto last?
Once made, pesto will last in the fridge for 4-5 days. Given It’s all natural and contains no preservatives it won’t last as long as store bought. Pesto does freeze really well though so make a few batches and you will have pesto year round!
How to make this easy pesto recipe
- Start by lightly toasting the pine nuts in a small frying pan over low-medium heat. This extra step is worth it and will bring out another level of flavour to the pesto.
- In a food processor add fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan and olive oil with a pinch of salt and pepper and process until smooth. Continue adding more olive oil if the mixture is too thick.
How easy is that!! 5 minutes of effort goes such a long way with this recipe. Once you try fresh basil you won’t go back to store bought I promise you!!
This Summer make sure you give this a go! Post a comment below I would love to hear your thoughts!
Here’s some other recipes you may like!
Easy 5 minute pesto recipe
Equipment
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 60 g pine nuts
- Large bunch of fresh basil leaves picked
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 60 g Parmesan
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil plus extra if needed
Instructions
- Toast the pine nuts in a small fry pan on low-medium heat until aromatic.
- In a food processor add the pine nuts, basil leaves, garlic, parmesan, olive oil and salt and pepper. Process until mixture is smooth, add more olive oil if mixture is too thick.
- Serve tossed through your favourite pasta or with grilled meat or fish.
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