Description
Ina Garten’s pesto sauce is a fresh, green sauce made primarily from basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. It’s a traditional Italian sauce known for its bright, herby flavor and creamy texture. Perfect for pasta, vegetables, or even as a topping for grilled meats, this pesto is a must-have in your culinary repertoire.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 3 tablespoons chopped garlic (9 cloves)
- 5 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups good olive oil
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Toast the nuts: In a dry pan over medium heat, toast the walnuts and pine nuts until golden, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Process the garlic and nuts: In a food processor, combine the toasted nuts and garlic, and pulse until finely chopped.
- Add basil, salt, and pepper: Add the basil leaves, salt, and pepper to the processor, and pulse until the basil is finely chopped.
- Stream in olive oil: With the processor running, slowly add the olive oil until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Incorporate Parmesan: Add the grated Parmesan and pulse until just combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Serve or store: Use the pesto immediately, or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.