Basil Pesto

Basil, basil everywhere – my window box is just loaded with basil so what better time to make pesto and freeze it for quick pasta dinners in the months to come.

Fresh Basil

Actually I made Basil Pesto  three times this week because my plants are just flourishing. My measurements are “more or less” because it is just that kind of recipe. I put everything in my food processor and use the standard cutting blade.

[Rating – easy]

Preparation time: 

10 minutes to combine ingredients and freeze

Basil (center)
Olive Oil, Pine Nuts and Walnuts, Whole Garlic Cloves,
Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese cubed

Ingredients: 

2 cups of fresh basil leaves (washed and air dried)

½ cup of pine nuts or 100 grams more or less

½ cup of walnuts or 100 grams more or less

8-10 cloves of garlic

½ cup to ¾ cup of hard cheese (Pecorino or Parmigiano-Reggiano)

Coarsely ground black pepper – about ¼ to ½ teaspoon

1 cup Olive Oil more or less

Preparation: 

• Place the pine nuts and walnuts in the food processor
• Process until they are coarsely ground (they should look sort of lumpy)

Coarsely ground pine nuts and walnuts

• Add the basil leaves and the garlic
• Pulse the processor the basil and garlic will begin to blend with the nuts
• Add the cheese

Large Chunk of Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese with fresh Basil leaves

• Continue to pulse until the ingredients look combined - but not smooth!!!
• Slowly add the Olive Oil while processing
• The mixture will begin to turn one color
• Scrape down the sides, test the consistency
• Add pepper to taste
• And pulse for a few more seconds

Basil Pesto in Food Processor

A close look at Basil Pesto - it should be a bit grainy 

Storage:
I usually place the Pesto in a silicon cupcake form and cover it with saran wrap.
When the Pesto is frozen it is easy to remove, you just peel the Pesto pelts out of the form and then you can store the individual portions in a container in the freezer; the portions stay separate and you will have Basil Pesto available whenever you want to put together a quick meal.
Enjoy, this is really easy and the results can be enjoyed for a very long time.
Looking forward to your feedback at capricorncooks@gmail.com.

Basil Pesto in silicon cupcake form - great for freezing.