A classic Basil Pesto Sauce Recipe! Perfect for using on your pastas, veggies, chicken, fish, rice, and more!

Classic Basil Pesto Sauce Recipe | TheRoastedRoot.net

While I love making pesto with an assortment of herbs, nuts, and cheeses, I simply love a classic basil pesto. Made with fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan cheese, this easy and flavor-packed sauce is tough to beat. I love using it on sandwiches, pizza, drizzling it on roasted vegetables, and even using it in salads as dressing.

Classic Basil Pesto Sauce Recipe | TheRoastedRoot.net

In addition to basil, you can use your choice of flat leaf parsley, cilantro, mint, sage, kale, arugula, and/or spinach in pesto sauce. You can also use raw walnuts, almonds, pecans, and pumpkin seeds instead of pine nuts. I also love using asiago cheese, Gruyere, and/or aged white cheddar in place of Parmesan. You can even get fancy with the oil and substitute grapeseed oil, pumpkin oil, avocado oil, or almond oil for the olive oil.

All you need to do to create a solid pesto sauce is follow the basic measurements in the recipe bellow, either following it to a T, replacing the ingredients with your ingredients of choice, or playing around with the proportions of ingredients.

Simply add everything except for the oil to a food processor and pulse a couple of times.

Classic Basil Pesto Sauce Recipe | TheRoastedRoot.net

Classic Basil Pesto Sauce Recipe | TheRoastedRoot.net

Turn your food processor on and allow it to blend while slowly pouring in the oil.

Classic Basil Pesto Sauce Recipe | TheRoastedRoot.net

For a thinner pesto sauce (great for pastas), add more oil, and for a thicker, spreadable pesto sauce, stick with the recipe below. Store pesto sauce in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Classic Basil Pesto Sauce Recipe | TheRoastedRoot.net

If you make this pesto sauce, feel free to share a photo on Instagram and tag @The.Roasted.Root!

Enjoy!

Classic Basil Pesto Sauce Recipe | TheRoastedRoot.net

Basil Pesto Recipe

4.43 from 7 votes
Classic Basil Pesto Recipe is fresh, flavorful and can be used on just about anything!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 1 cup pesto sauce

Ingredients

  • 3 cups fresh basil leaves packed
  • 2/3 cup pine nuts
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • ยผ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients except for the oil to a food processor. Pulse 4 to 5 times to coarsely chop the ingredients.
  • Turn the food processor on and slowly pour the olive oil through the opening. Process until desired consistency is achieved. Taste sauce for flavor. If desired, add additional sea salt.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Tbsp ยท Calories: 157kcal ยท Carbohydrates: 2g ยท Protein: 3g ยท Fat: 17g
Author: Julia
Course: Salsas, Sauces, Spreads, Dips, & Dressings
Cuisine: American
Keyword: basil pesto sauce, classic pesto, dinner, healthy, pesto sauce recipe
Did You Make This Recipe?I want to see it! Tag @the.roasted.root on social media!
Julia Mueller
Meet the Author

Julia Mueller

Julia Mueller is a recipe developer, cookbook author, and founder of The Roasted Root. She has authored three bestselling cookbooks, – Paleo Power Powers, Delicious Probiotic Drinks, and The Quintessential Kale Cookbook. Her recipes have been featured in several national publications such as BuzzFeed, Self, Tasty, Country Living, Brit.co, etc.

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