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5 from 1 vote

Classic Basil Pesto

There's really nothing better than a spoonful of freshly made basil pesto! It's the easiest way to amp up some pasta, a piece of protein, some veggies, a dip... you name it. And this is my perfected formula!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 12 servings
Author: Gaby Dalkin

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cup fresh basil leaves
  • ½ cup fresh baby spinach leaves
  • ½ cup pine nuts lightly toasted
  • ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper plus more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest

Instructions

  • Place the basil, spinach, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, lemon zest, and pepper into a food processor; blend until nearly smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula as necessary. Drizzle remaining olive oil into the mixture while processing until smooth.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning to your taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 170mg | Potassium: 54mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 144IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 0.5mg