Homemade Pesto Recipe {Freezer Meal}
This was the first year I have grown my own herbs. Not sure why it took me so long. I tend to avoid things that are unfamiliar and growing my own herbs was foreign territory for me. That was until my dad showed up to my house with cilantro, oregano, parsley, dill, and of course basil.
No easing my way into herb growing, huh? Here is my consensus on each herb so far:
- Dill: Huge and useless. It died without me using it once. (All the pickle makers out there just let out a gasp)
- Cilantro: Loved having this around. Used it in our cheesy chicken enchiladas and other mexican dishes.
- Oregano: Eh. Haven’t used it much. I did put some on our “gourmet pizza recipe” but that’s about it.
- Parsley: LOVE having this around as well. Used it a ton. It’s been great for recipes like meatball subs, marinara sauce, oven omelet, and many more.
- Basil: My favorite. Not only does the plant get huge but I have found a lot of uses for my lovely basil leaves. My favorite use of the basil leaves is making homemade pesto.
I had no idea making my own pesto was so easy. I had always bought it in jars at the store but was amazed at the difference between fresh pesto and jarred pesto. No competition. Fresh and homemade is better.
Want to make your own?
All you need is a few ingredients and a food processor.
Now put your pesto to good use in a few of these recipes!
Check out these 50+ ways to use up other summer produce, too.
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Try your hand at homemade pesto with just a few ingredients. The robust flavor will wow your most-favorite dishes!
Ingredients
- 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- ¼ cup pine nuts (sub: walnuts)
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅔ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine the basil, garlic, pine nuts, and cheese and pulse until coarsely chopped.
- Add ½ cup of olive oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Notes
Freezer Meal Instructions:
To Freeze:
Blend the pesto sauce as directed. Once fully incorporated, you can add small amounts of pesto to ice cube trays. Put in freezer until solid. Then dump ice cubes out in to freezer-safe ziplock bags. Store in freezer for up to 6 months. You can also store larger quantities of pesto in glass jars.
To Prepare:
Remove desired amount of pesto from freezer. Let thaw in refrigerator overnight or on the countertop. Use as needed.
I can’t have pine nuts or walnuts. Do you have suggestions for any other substitutions?
Have you ever tried canning pesto? I have a ton of basil and was wondering if it would turn out.