Pesto Genovese

A simple, classic basil pesto recipe perfect for pasta, on a sandwich, as a pizza sauce, garnish for soups, or paired with grilled meats. Only 5 minutes to make!

If you are Italian please do not read any further .... I'm pretty sure you were born instinctively knowing how to make Pesto Genovese. You were probably given a marble mortar and a wooden pestle before you could even walk and the multi-generational family recipe passed on to you from your Nonna or your Mama is ingrained on your brain like a tattoo. Consider yourself blessed. So just stop reading. Seriously.

Homemade Pesto Genovese aka Classic Pesto aka Traditional Pesto is AMAZING. Enough said. End of post. Buon appetito.

Not really. I have more to say (of course).

Pesto Genovese is a deceptively simple sauce to make. Throw some basil, pine nuts, cheese, salt, garlic, and olive oil in a food processor and let it whir until blended. Simple, right?

Errr...not so fast.

For a true classic Italian Pesto Genovese, there ARE rules to follow. However, if you live in the Western Hemisphere such as I do, we have failed at this sauce before we have even begun due to the type of basil made available to us.

Pesto alla genovese is D.O.P.-protected, which simply put means for a pesto to be considered "true" Pesto Genovese it must be made in a specific way with specific ingredients. You can read more about D.O.P. protection on Wikipedia. We're getting technical folks.

Recipe Ingredients

Here's what you need in order to make this green gold.

1. Find some D.O.P. basil from Genova (or regular basil from your local grocery store). You might have to fly to the Italian region of Liguria for this, but who wouldn't love a trip to Italy?!
2. Grab some pine nuts off some pine cones (yep, they actually come from pine cones). You can find pine nuts in most grocery stores.
3. Pick up a wedge of aged Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and Pecorino cheese, specifically Fiore Sardo Pecorino if you want to be authentic (or from Costco because they have some of the best prices on these two kinds of cheese).
4. You'll need a couple of garlic cloves from Vessalico (small town about 56 miles southwest of Genova...road trip!), but your local garlic will be just fine too.
5. Pinch of Kosher salt.
6. And while you're at it be sure to get some D.O.P. extra-virgin olive oil from the Italian Riviera. Or ask your local grocer which extra-virgin olive oil they recommend. Higher quality olive oil makes for a better pesto.

This pesto could provide for a really lovely trip along the Mediterranean. And some really expensive pesto.

Since us normal folk aren't typically able to go jet-setting each time we would like fresh pesto I think it's time to break some Pesto Genovese rules. And if you're Italian and still reading this, don't tell your Nonna. My ingredients are sourced from my local grocery store. And they won't be D.O.P.

Step by step instructions

While a marble mortar and a wooden pestle are the "correct" method for making pesto, I'm taking the easy/fast route and using my food processor. I LUU-UH-UHHHVE my food processor. It makes the world of cooking easier in many ways, with homemade pesto being one of those. I hear the angels sing a chorus of hallelujahs every time I use it.

There are also rules regarding the order in which the ingredients should be incorporated. I typically stick to these rules. Sometimes sticking to the rules is worthwhile. I repeat, sometimes...

Step 1: Begin by processing the garlic and pine nuts together.

Step 2: Once the pine nuts and garlic are pulverized, add the basil and salt. Then add the cheeses.

Step 3: Finally, add the olive oil in a thin stream, pulsing the processor until the ingredients have incorporated.

And just like that, we have pesto. Easy peasy!

In no more than 5 minutes we have created a seriously tasty sauce for:

• pizzas
• grilled meats
• a flavorful spread for a grilled sandwich (grilled cheese!)
• a garnish for soups
• a swoon-worthy sauce for this Creamy Pesto Pasta with Chicken & Sun-Dried Tomatoes (make for dinner tonight!).

Yummm. The options for including pesto into your meals is endless.

You might even catch someone in your household eating it by the spoonful (Husband, I'm looking at you).

Recipe tips

• Be sure to rinse your basil and thoroughly pat the leaves dry before tossing them into your food processor. Or use a handy salad spinner to dry them.
• Toasting the pine nuts prior to adding them into the pesto is a little flavor enhancer that makes this pesto even yummier.
• Pine nuts are fairly expensive so feel free to mix up your pesto with some other tasty nut options like walnuts, almonds, pecans, or macadamia nuts.
• You want to make sure that your garlic, particularly if your garlic cloves are large, doesn't overpower the other flavors of the garlic. I typically use 1-2 cloves of garlic in my pesto. Consider adding just a little garlic at a time making sure you can still taste the other flavors of the pesto.

Recipe FAQs

What are you waiting for?! Whip up some homemade Pesto Genovese and let me know in the comments below what you're eating it with! And if you happen to fly to the Italian Riviera to source your ingredients, send me a postcard!

Ciao amici!

More recipe ideas to try!

• Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto a tasty variation on the classic version
• Smooth & Creamy Hummus a quick dip that everyone will love
• 5-Minute Green Garlic Dip a tasty dip for all the garlic lovers!
• 5-Minute Peanut Sauce serve with veggies, noodles, or spring rolls

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