Basil Pesto

I harvested my basil today. Nothing tastes as good as something fresh from the garden–especially fresh basil.

Basil Pesto

Ingredients:
2-3 cups loosely packed basil leaves
1-2 garlic cloves (it gets stronger as it sits….)
1/4-1/2 cup pine nuts (I’ve used walnuts and almonds before, too.)
1/2 cup good-quality Parmesan cheese, grated
good-quality olive oil
sea salt

Instructions:
Wash and dry the basil. I usually use my salad spinner. Place the leaves in a food processor or blender. Pulse to chop the basil. Add the garlic, nuts, and cheese. Continue pulsing until a paste forms. With the food processor running, slowly drizzle the olive oil through the feed hole until the pesto starts to come together and form a smooth sauce. Add some salt a little at a time. You may not need much because of the salt from the Parmesan. Serve immediately or store in your fridge for up to a week. If you are going to store it, drizzle a little extra olive oil on top to prevent it from turning brown.

Serving suggestions:

Toss with hot pasta
Sandwich spread–really good with a roasted or grilled veggie wedge
Top Brie with some pesto and bake–eat with bread or crackers
Mix in with spaghetti sauce
Eat it on baguette slices