Homemade Pesto Sauce Recipe (2024)

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by Alea Milham 6 Comments

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Homemade Pesto Sauce Recipe (1)

Are you in a rush to do something with your herbs before the first freeze arrives? I mass harvest all of my outdoor herbs before the first freeze hits and kills off many of my plants. I dry many of my herbs to use throughout the year. I also freeze some of my herbs. However, when I have a lot of herbs that I want to preserve quickly, I use them to make Pesto Sauce.

You can use up and preserve a large quantity of herbs by using them in a sauce or dressing. In the fall I make multiple batches of pesto and freeze it so that we can enjoy this summer-time treat while watching the snowfall. While Pesto Sauce is usually made with basil, you can feel free to add other herbs to create your own uniquely flavored pesto sauce.

Even if you didn’t grow an herb garden this year, you can make Pesto sauce with fresh herbswhen your local grocery store has a sale on fresh basil.

HomemadePesto Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups packed basil leaves (clean and dried)
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 – 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon diced onion
  • 1/16 teaspoon seasoned salt (How to make Seasoned Salt)

Directions:

  1. Add nuts, garlic, oil, grated cheese, onion, and seasoned salt to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth.
  2. Add basiland mix until smooth.
  3. Use as called for in recipes.

Uses for Homemade Pesto Sauce

Homemade Pesto Sauce Recipe (2)You can serve your pesto sauce over pasta. I think it is especially good over tortellini. Just cook the tortellini or pasta of your choice according to the package directions. Drain the pasta when it is done cooking and then return to pot. Add the pesto sauce to the pasta, toss to coat and cook over a medium flame for 3 – 4 minute or until the pesto sauce is heated through.

You can serve Pesto sauce onbruschetta. Toast or broil bread until browned. Spread pesto over bread slices and top with mozzarella cheese. Broil for 2- 4 minutes or until the pesto is heated and the cheese is melted.

You can serve pesto sauce over meat. Heat pesto sauce and serve it over cooked chicken breasts.

You can use pesto sauce to coat a pasta salad. Pesto sauce makes a delicious alternative to salad dressing on pasta salads. You can use it on cold pasta salads or warm pasta salads.

Use pesto sauce in place of pizza sauce to make a tasty pizza for those who don’t like tomatoes.

How to Freeze Pesto Sauce

Freeze pesto sauce in usable quantities in a liddedcontainer or plastic bag. I like to freeze some of my pesto sauce in 1/2 cup containers because that is the perfect amount of sauce for covering a pizza. I also freeze it in 1 cup portions to use over pasta. It can remain frozen for up to 9 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using.

Homemade Pesto Sauce

Homemade Pesto Sauce Recipe (3)

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Prep time

Total time

Author: Alea

Serves: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 cups packed basil leaves (clean and dried)
  • ¼ cup pine nuts or walnuts
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 - 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon diced onion
  • 1/16 teaspoon seasoned salt

Directions

  1. Add nuts, garlic, oil, grated cheese, onion, and seasoned salt to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth.
  2. Add basil and mix until smooth.

More Homemade Sauce Recipes

Quick and Easy Pizza Sauce

Chunky Pizza Sauce Recipe

Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Mild Enchilada Sauce Recipe

About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

Comments

  1. Kimber says

    What is the salt seasoned with?

    Reply

    • Alea Milham says

      Here is how to make seasoned salt: https://premeditatedleftovers.com/recipes-cooking-tips/how-to-make-a-substitute-for-herbamare-at-home-seasoned-salt-recipe/

      Reply

  2. Patty says

    Really deliciousus.

    Reply

  3. Emily says

    Just made it. Delicious!!

    Reply

  4. Amber Kay says

    You can add walnuts or cashew nuts to the pine nuts to make a little less expensive and also sun dried tomatoes add another flavour to the pesto which is nice for a change.

    Reply

  5. Meagan | LifeOutsideOfTexas.com says

    When I made this as the recipe called, it had a very woody/leafy flavor. I think it just might have been our basil. I’m not sure. My husband still liked it. I added more cheese and salt and then let it sit in the fridge overnight and after that it was very delicious!

    I’m not giving up on your recipe. I’ll definitely try it again with a new batch of basil and see if that helps. Otherwise, it’s a great base recipe! Thank you!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Homemade Pesto Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make pesto sauce better? ›

Start with buying the freshest ingredients you can find. The best tip I've learned so far when making Pesto ala Genovese is to ditch the blender and food processor and make it by hand, using a mortar and pestle. It doesn't take very long, and the texture and flavor are superior.

Why does my homemade pesto taste bad? ›

The most common reason for pesto tasting bitter is that the olive oil is past its best and has started to turn rancid. If the pesto has been made in a food processor or blender, there's also the possibility that it has turned bitter from the crude, sheering action of the blades.

Is it worth making your own pesto? ›

Homemade basil pesto is a wonderfully versatile and tasty sauce/spread made from a handful of flavorful ingredients. It comes together in minutes and tastes worlds better than store-bought because it's so fresh.

How long does homemade pesto last? ›

How Long Does Pesto Last? This easy basil pesto sauce will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator if stored in an airtight container.

What exactly is pesto sauce? ›

Pesto is one of the most popular pasta toppings in Italy. It originated in Liguria, specifically in Genoa. This flavorful sauce is made of basil, extra-virgin olive oil, parmesan cheese, pecorino cheese, pine nuts, garlic and salt, traditionally ground in a ceramic or marble mortar.

What cuts bitterness in pesto? ›

Anything sugary will work: granulated white sugar, honey, fruit juices, even sweet dessert wines. Acid in the form of vinegar or citrus juices can make a pesto taste less bitter and could even enhance the flavour of the sauce at the same time.

How do you keep homemade pesto from turning dark? ›

If you're making pesto at home, blanching basil for 15 seconds will deactivate the enzymes' ability to brown. Just make sure to stop the cooking process by plunging the leaves into an ice bath straight after.

Will lemon juice keep pesto green? ›

How to Use Lemon Juice to Keep Pesto Green. Another way to prevent basil oxidation? Lower its pH with lemon juice. Browning happens most readily at neutral pH, so making the pesto's pH more acidic can help slow down this process.

Why do I feel bad after eating pesto? ›

Pesto contains ingredients that can trigger IBS symptoms in some individuals. For example, pine nuts, olive oil, and parmesan cheese in pesto can potentially worsen symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.

Why is my homemade pesto turning brown? ›

The cause of pesto turning brown, or grey is usually because the herbs have started oxidising. The best way to slow that process is to reduce the amount of time the sauce is exposed to air.

Why do I get sick after eating pesto? ›

An adverse reaction after eating basil pesto may not be related to an allergic reaction. If you develop gas, bloating or an upset stomach you may be sensitive to some of the ingredients, such as garlic or olive oil. Make an appointment for further evaluation to diagnose your condition.

What are the disadvantages of pesto? ›

Is there any downside to eating pesto? If you are allergic to pignoli (pinenuts) or walnuts the most common allergy inducing components of pesto, then there is a definite downside but there are many nut free pesto recipes. Pesto has a high fat (olive oil) content (if you are on a low fat diet).

What pasta is best for pesto? ›

Pesto Sauce

This fresh and fragrant pasta sauce is served uncooked, so choose a pasta shape that won't overwhelm it. Similar to oil-based sauces, pesto is served best with longer cuts of pasta, like the corkscrew shape of Fusilli. Pesto works best with Bucatini, Capellini, thinner Spaghettini, and Fettuccine.

Is it OK to eat pesto everyday? ›

A. While pesto has impressive amounts of nutrition, it's still not the healthiest sauce. It would be best to eat it in moderation because pesto contains fats and calories from olive oil and nuts. Moreover, it is higher in fat and calories than most tomato-based sauces.

What are the ingredients in store bought pesto? ›

Perfect for ...

Pesto is a sauce from Italy that traditionally consists of crushed garlic, pine nuts, salt, basil leaves and cheese such as Parmigiano-Reggiano. Barilla's Rustic Basil Pesto is made in Italy with high-quality ingredients like with fragrant Italian basil and freshly grated Italian cheeses.

What are people allergic to in pesto? ›

Overview. While pine tree allergy is relatively uncommon, there are two main allergens of concern that come from pine trees: pine nuts and pine pollen. Pine nuts (pignoli) are the edible seeds of certain species of pine trees, and are used in a variety of foods, including Italian pesto.

What is the main flavor in pesto? ›

What does pesto taste like? Traditional pesto is a thick, green sauce that tastes bright and herby from the basil, and salty and rich from the cheeses and pine nuts. It should be garlicky, with pleasant grassiness from good quality olive oil.

What am I allergic to in pesto? ›

Pesto, a flavorful sauce, often contains nuts, dairy, and garlic, which are common allergens. To safeguard yourself, here are concise and SEO-friendly tips to dodge pesky reactions: Read labels carefully: Always check ingredients.

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