Simple Roasted Garlic Pesto

Elevate your pesto game with this Simple Roasted Garlic Pesto, a luxurious twist on the classic Italian favorite. Featuring the deep, caramelized sweetness of oven-roasted garlic paired with vibrant fresh basil, nutty Parmesan cheese, and buttery pine nuts, this pesto is effortlessly creamy and bursting with flavor. A hint of lemon juice brightens the richness, while extra virgin olive oil ties it all together. Perfect as a versatile sauce for pasta, a flavorful spread for sandwiches, or a dipping condiment, this recipe is easy to prepare with just 10 minutes of prep and yields enough to serve a crowd or to store for future meals. Discover the magic of roasted garlic in this irresistible pesto that’s sure to become a kitchen staple!

Nutriscore Rating: 53/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 Garlic bulb
• 4 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cups Fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 0.33 cup Pine nuts
• 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

Step 2

Slice off the top of the garlic bulb, exposing the tops of the cloves. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the exposed garlic, then wrap the bulb in aluminum foil.

Step 3

Roast the garlic in the preheated oven for 35–40 minutes, or until the cloves are soft and golden brown. Let cool slightly.

Step 4

Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins and transfer them to a food processor.

Step 5

Add the fresh basil, grated parmesan cheese, pine nuts, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to the food processor.

Step 6

Pulse the mixture a few times to roughly combine the ingredients.

Step 7

With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil until the pesto has a smooth, creamy consistency. Scrape down the sides as needed.

Step 8

Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or lemon juice, if desired.

Step 9

Transfer the pesto to a jar or airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days or frozen for longer storage.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(371.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1320.4

Total Fat 111.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 26.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 15.2g
Cholesterol 80mg	0%
Sodium 2564.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 53.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 6.1g	0%
Total Sugars 3.0g
Protein 48.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1187.7mg	0%
Iron 6.2mg	0%
Potassium 961.7mg	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: 71.1%

Protein: 13.7%

Carbs: 15.2%