Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe Deserves An Invite to Pasta Night (7 Ingredients, 10 Minutes) Italian Recipes Sauces/Condiments Pasta Low Sugar Recipes Farm to Table Recipe Gluten-free Vegetarian Mediterranean Diet Recipes

It's that time of the year where basil is growing and overflowing out of gardens everywhere. But I can’t get enough of pesto, all year long. I love it on chicken, in a variety of sandwiches, in hot pasta dishes, in various types of pasta salad and more. There’s nothing like homemade basil pesto!

This gluten-free pesto recipe is about as easy as it gets, with just one step! One! Make extra to freeze for later. 

Here is your shopping list so you can harvest your basil and get to blending: fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, lemons for juicing and zesting, fresh garlic, kosher salt and extra-virgin olive oil.

The fresh pesto is made by whirling all the ingredients together in a blender. Use immediately or put into freezer containers and freeze for later. It's a great way to stock up on fresh pesto to enjoy for dinner or for lunch throughout the year. Another bonus? You get the health benefits of pesto.

Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4 (makes about 1 cup)

Ingredients

• 3 cups fresh basil
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest, grated
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Here's how to make it:

1. Put all ingredients in a food processor or a blender. (Don't pick your basil too far ahead of time. It can start getting black spots on it after being picked. Add some crushed red pepper flakes for a little kick. Love garlic? Add another clove or two to the recipe.)
2. Pulse until almost smooth. Enjoy! Store the basil pesto in an airtight container or mason jar in the fridge. You can also freeze it for quick dinners later.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get recipes in your newsfeed daily. Food, fun, health, happiness.