Description
Culinary magic meets simplicity in this very incredible basil sauce, blending fresh herbs with creamy richness. Bright green and aromatic, this versatile sauce promises to elevate your dishes with Mediterranean charm you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) fresh basil leaves, packed
- 12 cloves garlic
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) olive oil
- ¼ cup (60 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) pine nuts or walnuts
Seasoning:
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 12 tablespoons (180 milliliters) water
Instructions
- Gather fresh basil leaves and rinse thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris.
- Place basil in a food processor along with peeled garlic cloves, adding lemon juice for brightness and acidity.
- Incorporate Dijon mustard and honey to balance the herbal notes with tangy and sweet undertones.
- Include nuts or cheese for depth of flavor and creamy texture, if desired.
- Pulse the ingredients until they form a coarse, roughly chopped mixture.
- With the processor running, gradually stream in olive oil in a steady, thin drizzle to emulsify the sauce.
- If the consistency appears too thick, add water sparingly to achieve a smooth, pourable texture.
- Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Blend briefly to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated and seasonings are evenly distributed.
- Transfer the vibrant green sauce to a clean, sealed jar or container.
- Refrigerate and consume within one week for optimal freshness and flavor.
Notes
- Choose fresh, bright green basil leaves for the most vibrant flavor and color in your sauce.
- Experiment with different nuts like pine nuts, walnuts, or almonds to create unique taste variations.
- For a vegan version, replace cheese with nutritional yeast or omit entirely, and use maple syrup instead of honey.
- Always taste and adjust seasoning gradually, adding salt and pepper in small increments to prevent over-seasoning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 12 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg