Who loves pesto? Talk about giving your food that bit of zing that you are looking for.

I am not a pesto fan for just pesto itself, yet add it to something else … voila! I love it added to my pizza, pasta sauce, within a dip, on potatoes, or on grilled vegetables! Yum.

Having it on hand, to just pop into a recipe, makes life so simple.

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Pesto as a recipe has a few ingredients and it doesn’t require a lot of fuzzing. That is key for me as there are days if I have to fuss it just isn’t going to happen.

What exactly is pesto? It is a paste-like substance consisting of basil, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt, parmesan cheese, and pine nuts (optional). Simple right? Yes it is.

When you have basil coming strong within your garden, or in your house mini herb garden, make this quick and easy option.

Recipe Card

Recipe by Teresa TimmermanDifficulty: Easy

Prep time

minutes

Easy pesto recipe. No cooking.

Ingredients

6 cups – fresh basil
3 – garlic cloves
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons – lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon – fine sea salt
1/2 cup – lukewarm water
1/4 cup – pine nuts (optional)
1/2 cup – parmesan cheese
Needed:
Ice cube tray (I use one with silicone bottom for ease)
Food Processor

Directions

Wash your basil. Peel your garlic and chop each clove in half.
Put all your ingredients (except basil and parmesan cheese) in your food processor and pulse till chopped as you desire. Then add the basil and parmesan cheese and continue to pulse till chopped. Won’t take long.
Press into the ice cube tray. Put in freezer for 24 hours.
After 24 hours. Pop out of ice cube tray and freeze in a freezer bag.
Label and date.
Use as desired. Enjoy!