Mom's Pesto Recipe

Capture the taste of summer with Mom's Pesto! This vibrant, flavorful recipe uses fresh basil (grow your own for an extra special touch!) and simple ingredients to create a pesto that's perfect for pasta, bread, or vegetables. This isn't just a recipe; it's a tradition passed down, bursting with fresh herbs and family love. Purple basil adds a delicious spicy kick!

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 5 mins
Calories 276.8 kcal
Protein 15g
Rating 4.0 (1 Reviews)
Mom's Pesto 40

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Mom's Pesto

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How to Make Mom's Pesto

  1. Harvest 4-5 cups of fresh basil leaves (from your garden or store-bought).
  2. Combine 1 cup of basil leaves, ½ cup walnuts (or pine nuts), ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 cloves garlic, and a pinch of salt in a food processor.
  3. With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in about ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil until you reach your desired consistency (thicker for spreading, thinner for tossing).
  4. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more garlic, salt, or cheese.
  5. For longer storage (up to 6 months), freeze the pesto without the cheese. Add the cheese when ready to serve to prevent separation.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

8 g

Sugar

2g

Fat

24g

Carbs

1g