My Friend Tony's Best Pesto

Discover the vibrant, zesty charm of "My Friend Tony's Best Pesto," an effortless homemade sauce that’s destined to elevate your meals. This 10-minute recipe combines the bold, herbaceous flavor of fresh basil leaves with the nutty richness of toasted pine nuts and the savory depth of grated Parmesan. A touch of fresh lemon juice adds brightness, while garlic and extra-virgin olive oil create a velvety, aromatic finish. Perfect for pasta, grilled vegetables, or as a spread for sandwiches, this versatile pesto promises restaurant-quality flavor with simple ingredients from your kitchen. Quick, fresh, and irresistibly delicious, it's a must-have recipe for busy weeknights and casual entertaining alike.

Nutriscore Rating: 37/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:10 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
• 0.3333 cup pine nuts (toasted)
• 2 garlic cloves
• 0.5 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden brown and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Step 2

In a food processor, add the basil leaves, Parmesan cheese, toasted pine nuts, and garlic cloves. Pulse several times to combine.

Step 3

With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture becomes smooth and emulsified.

Step 4

Add the lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Pulse a few more times to incorporate.

Step 5

Taste the pesto and adjust seasoning if necessary, adding more salt or lemon juice to taste.

Step 6

Transfer the pesto to an airtight container and refrigerate if not using immediately. It will keep for up to a week in the fridge.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(451.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2330.6

Total Fat 211.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 61.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 190.5mg	0%
Sodium 4804.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 19.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 3.1g	0%
Total Sugars 1.7g
Protein 97.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 2686.3mg	0%
Iron 3.7mg	0%
Potassium 638.1mg	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: 80.3%

Protein: 16.4%

Carbs: 3.2%