How to Make Pesto (Ready in 5 Minutes!)

5 from 4 votes

Learn how to make pesto in 5 minutes using only 6 ingredients. This homemade recipe is packed with flavor and can be added to so many dishes

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Servings:

Calories: 184kcal

Prep Time5

Cook Time0

Total Time5

Toast the pineuts on a pan on a very low heat until nice and golden and allow to cool
Add basil leaves, garlic, toasted pinenuts, lemon juice and salt into a food processor
Grate in the parmesan cheese and top with extra virgin olive oil
Pulse in a food processor or blender so that the mixture is nicely blended and chopped but be careful not to over blend as you still want some texture to remain. You can also make the pesto in a mortar and pestle
Serve in favorite dish, make pesto pasta or store the remaining in an air tight container in the fridge or freezer

⭐️ Final Step! Would love if you left a rating and comment to let me know how it went. Your feedback helps inspire others and means alot ❤️

Parmesan cheese - for the best flavor, use Parmigiano Reggiano and look for the “DOP” seal, which guarantees authentic production. I typically use 12–24 month aged cheese for pesto as it’s milder and creamier
Pine nuts - by toasting the pine nuts it will enhance their nutty flavor. Just add them to a dry pan, but watch them closely as they can burn quickly
Pulse don't blend - whether you're using a food processor, blender or stick blender, blend in short bursts rather than continuously. This helps maintain some texture and prevents the pesto from becoming too runny
Before serving - right before serving stir the pesto, as the oil will naturally rise to the top while it sits

Keywords: basil, pesto, sauce