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–+ servings
easy pesto recipe

Basil pesto

This authentic basil pesto is prepared using mortar and pestle, the two tools originally used to make one of the most famous Italian sauces.
5 from 21 votes
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Sauce
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • Mortar
  • Pestle
  • OR
  • Blender

Ingredients
  

  • 50 grams fresh basil leaves
  • 100 milliliters extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons pecorino cheese grated
  • 6 tablespoons parmigiano or grana padano grated
  • 1 tablespoon pine nuts
  • coarse salt

Instructions
 

  • Wash the basil leaves very quickly in cold water and put them to dry on a kitchen towel.
  • Begin by crushing the cloves of garlic with a small amount of salt with a mortar and pestle. Keep crushing until a paste is formed.
  • Add the pine nuts and keep crushing. Then add some basil leaves and crush them. Use a soft rotating movement and keep adding the leaves until all of them have been added and a paste has formed.
  • Add the grated cheeses and the oil, mix into the paste. The pesto is ready to be used.

Caution

Nutritional information shall not be used for medical reasons.

Keyword green pesto, italian pesto
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