Pesto Base Recipe

This is one of our base recipes. Make this easy pesto base recipe any time of year! Blend fresh herbs/greens with garlic, cheese, nuts, and heart healthy olive oil for a delicious dip, spread, dressing, or topping.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean

Servings: 1 cup

Ingredients

Base Recipe

2 cups packed leafy greens (~1 ½ ounces)
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
½ cup shredded hard cheese (parmesan, asiago, aged cheddar)
¼-½ cup nuts*
1 medium garlic clove
Salt & pepper to taste

Additions to YOUR taste

1-2 Tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions

Place leafy greens, oil, cheese, nuts, and garlic in a blender and puree until fairly smooth. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and optional lemon juice.
To store, pour into a container and top with a little extra virgin olive oil to keep your pesto nice and green. Enjoy!

Notes

Be sure to pack the leafy greens in the measuring cup, but don't pack so much that they keep coming out of the top.

*For smaller nuts, like pine nuts, use closer to ¼ cup. For larger nuts, like walnuts or almonds, use ½ cup.

Check out these recipes for flavor inspiration!