Description
Joanna Gaines’ classic pesto combines fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, and parmesan for a rich, aromatic sauce. Homemade Italian condiment drizzled over pasta or used as a spread delights diners with its simple yet bold Mediterranean flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups walnuts, chopped
- 3 cups basil leaves, fresh
- 4 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 cup olive oil
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Ingredient Preparation: Meticulously wash and inspect fresh basil leaves, discarding any imperfect pieces while setting up the food processor for optimal blending.
- Initial Mixing: Combine whole walnuts, peeled garlic cloves, and Parmesan cheese in the processor, pulsing to create a coarse, textured foundation with uniform fragments.
- Emulsification Process: Activate the processor and continuously drizzle extra virgin olive oil in a thin, steady stream, allowing the ingredients to transform into a cohesive, silky sauce.
- Texture Refinement: Pause processing to scrape down the container sides, ensuring complete ingredient integration and preventing uneven consistency.
- Seasoning Enhancement: Introduce kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, tasting and adjusting to develop a balanced, vibrant flavor profile.
- Final Blending: Execute a swift, final blend to harmonize seasonings and achieve a lustrous, emerald-green pesto with smooth, elegant texture.
- Storage and Serving: Transfer pesto to a container, optionally covering with a delicate olive oil layer to preserve freshness, and prepare to use as a versatile culinary companion for pasta, bread, grilled dishes, and beyond.
Notes
- Select Fresh Basil: Choose bright green, fragrant leaves without any brown spots or wilting to ensure maximum flavor and vibrant color.
- Control Texture Carefully: Pulse ingredients gradually to maintain a coarse, rustic texture that prevents over-processing and preserves the sauce’s authentic character.
- Drizzle Oil Strategically: Pour extra virgin olive oil slowly and steadily while processor runs to create smooth emulsification and prevent separation.
- Preserve Freshness Smartly: Cover stored pesto with thin olive oil layer to prevent oxidation and maintain bright green color, extending refrigerator life up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 717
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 78 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 68 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 4 mg