Creamy Basil Pesto

Brighten your meals with this lush Creamy Basil Pesto—a velvety twist on the classic Italian sauce that’s bursting with fresh, herbal flavor. Made with fragrant basil leaves, nutty Parmesan cheese, rich pine nuts, and just the right amount of garlic, this recipe takes it to the next level with the addition of silky heavy cream and a splash of tangy lemon juice. Perfectly balanced with olive oil and seasoned to taste, this no-cook sauce comes together in just 10 minutes, making it a quick and versatile choice for any meal. Use it as a decadent topping for pasta, a flavorful spread for sandwiches, or a gourmet drizzle over grilled vegetables and proteins. This creamy pesto is your new go-to recipe for elevating everyday dishes with a touch of indulgence!

Nutriscore Rating: 41/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:10 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups (packed) fresh basil leaves
• 0.5 cups parmesan cheese, grated
• 0.25 cups pine nuts
• 2 whole garlic cloves
• 0.5 cups olive oil
• 0.25 cups heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.25 teaspoons black pepper, freshly ground

Directions

Step 1

Thoroughly wash and dry the fresh basil leaves to remove any dirt or debris.

Step 2

Combine the basil leaves, grated Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and garlic in a food processor or a high-powered blender.

Step 3

Pulse the ingredients a few times until they are roughly chopped and well combined.

Step 4

While the processor or blender is running, slowly stream in the olive oil, blending until the sauce reaches a smooth consistency.

Step 5

Add the heavy cream, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to the mixture, and blend until fully incorporated and creamy.

Step 6

Taste the pesto and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper, if needed.

Step 7

Transfer the creamy basil pesto to a clean, airtight container and refrigerate if not using immediately.

Step 8

Serve the pesto with your favorite pasta, as a spread, or as a sauce for grilled vegetables or proteins.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(296.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1613.0

Total Fat 167.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 39.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 22.1g
Cholesterol 100mg	0%
Sodium 1882.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 7.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 2.7g	0%
Total Sugars 1.6g
Protein 22.0g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 501.5mg	0%
Iron 3.9mg	0%
Potassium 353.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 92.8%

Protein: 5.4%

Carbs: 1.7%