Pesto alla Genovese (Traditional Basil Pesto Recipe from Genoa)

8-minute easy recipe for homemade pesto, or Pesto Genovese, the basil pesto that we love so much! Click here also, for ideas on how to use pesto.

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Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Pesto, as many people know it, is that dark green basil sauce from Italy, traditionally eaten with trofie (short and thin, twisted pasta shapes).

However, the word pesto, comes from the Italian word pestare, meaning “to pound, crush or grind”. So pesto really is any sauce where the ingredients have been pounded together.

But the pesto that we all know and love, is in fact basil pesto or Pesto Genovese, created in the port city of Genoa, in Liguria, in north west Italy. And it has the simplest of ingredients.

Why Make Pesto, when You can Buy?

Because it’s easy, it’s fresh, and it contains only the ingredients it needs. That means no potato, no egg and no additives, that you are likely to see on the ingredients’ list of shop bought pesto.

Pesto Ingredients

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Basil Leaves
• Garlic
• Pine Nuts
• Parmesan & Pecorino Romano Cheeses (although some omit the cheese)
• And the obligatory salt and pepper

Red Pesto Recipe

How do You Make Pesto?

You place all the above ingredients in a food chopper (olive oil is drizzled in later) and chop to either a fine or coarse state, however you prefer your pesto. Traditionally, pesto is made with a pestle and mortar, giving you a more rustic sauce.

Grating your cheese before adding to the chopper or your mortar, makes for easier chopping and pounding.

I am a huge fan of pesto sauce and make a variety of them, as well as a variety of recipes with pesto. Another favourite pesto sauce of mine is the Red Chilli Pesto, above.

And, you will find, below, examples of how I use Pesto Genovese here on LinsFood.

Let’s get our aprons on!

Pesto Recipes on LinsFood

You’ll find more wonderful Italian recipes on the Italian Recipes page, including fusion recipes like Wild Garlic Pesto.

If you like the recipe, don’t forget to leave me a comment and that all important, 5-star rating! Thank you!

And if you make the recipe, share it on any platform and tag me @azlinbloor, and hashtag it #linsfood

Lin xx

Pesto alla Genovese (Traditional Basil Pesto Recipe from Genoa)

8-minute easy recipe for homemade pesto, or Pesto Genovese, the basil pesto that we love so much! Click here also, for ideas on how to use pesto.

5 from 42 votes

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Course: Sauces

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: pesto

Prep Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 8 minutes

Servings: 4 to 6 (about 250ml/1 cup)

Calories: 460kcal

Author: Azlin Bloor

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 medium clove garlic
• ▢ 60 g pine nuts
• ▢ 3 handfuls fresh basil leaves
• ▢ 150 ml extra virgin olive oil
• ▢ 3 Tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese
• ▢ 2 Tbsp freshly grated pecorino cheese
• ▢ Pinch salt
• ▢ Pinch freshly ground black pepper

MetricUS

Instructions

• In a food chopper, start with chopping the garlic and pine nuts for a few seconds.
• Add the basil leaves and half the olive oil and continue chopping for about 20 seconds more.
• Add the cheeses, salt, pepper and a little more olive oil and chop again.
• Scrape down the sides and add more olive oil if you need it and chop one last time to incorporate everything together. You are going for a paste that is just pourable and thick.

Nutrition

Calories: 460kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 50g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 31g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 89mg | Potassium: 104mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 126IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 1mg

Carbon Footprint

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