Pesto Sauce Recipe: Classic Italian Basil Pesto in 10 Minutes

Pesto Sauce in a white small ramekin with a brown spoon FI

Pesto Sauce Recipe: Classic Italian Basil Pesto in 10 Minutes

There's nothing like a fresh, homemade Pesto Sauce Recipe to bring your meals to lif. Made with fragrant basil, nutty Parmesan cheese, and a rich olive oil, this class Italian sauce is incredibly easy and ready in just 10 minutes. Pair it with the perfect pasta shape for your next favorite weeknight dinner.

If you like Italian sauces, try my recipe for Traditional Bolognese Sauce, Pasta with Tomato Sauce and Pork Ribs, or my Beet Gnocchi with Alfredo Sauce.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save

Prep Time 20

Total Time 20

Course Sides and Sauces

Cuisine Italian

Servings

Calories 580 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

4 tbsp pine nuts slightly roasted (or nut of your choice)
3 cups fresh basil leaves slightly packed
2 cloves garlic peeled
⅓ cup parmesan cheese
⅓ cup olive oil or more, depending on your preference
1 tsp lemon juice (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
12 oz Pasta long pasta like pappardelle, fettucine, linguini

Instructions

Place pine nuts on a small baking sheet and roast at 350°F for 5 to minutes until golden. Let cool. (You can also roast them in a pan over the stove).
4 tbsp pine nuts
Place basil and lemon juice in a mini food processor and chop to a fine consistency. Remove and place in a small bowl.
3 cups fresh basil leaves, 1 tsp lemon juice
If serving immediately reserve a few whole pine nuts as a garnish. Chop the remaining pine nuts by hand or in a mini food processor with the garlic. Add chopped pine nuts to basil mixture.
2 cloves garlic
Add the olive oil, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to the chopped basil. You may want to add more olive oil as per your preference for a fluid sauce.
⅓ cup parmesan cheese, ⅓ cup olive oil, salt and pepper
Use immediately or store in a small mason jar, ensuring that the pesto is underneath the oil to avoid mold growth.
Cook your pasta as usual and scoop cooked pasta into a large serving bowl. Scoop pesto on top and mix thoroughly. (The pesto should not be cooked or heated) Add more olive oil and cheese if needed. Sprinkle reserved pine nuts.
12 oz Pasta

Notes

Top Tips

If you are placing pesto over pasta, drain it but do not rinse the pasta. Use a pasta scoop or spaghetti scoop to remove the pasta from the pot and into your serving bowl. Then add sauce and mix well.

You can also use a colander to drain the pasta but do not rinse it as the starch helps the sauce to stick to the pasta.

Reserve some pasta water to add to your pesto pasta before serving just in case it is to dry.

Do not cook the pesto, that will change the taste of the sauce. Basil Pesto Sauce is designed to be placed as is to dress pasta but not to cook in it.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 580kcalCarbohydrates: 66gProtein: 16gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 140mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 701IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 142mgIron: 2mg

Keyword Basil Pesto Sauce, no cooking required, vegan

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!