How to make fresh basil pesto sauce? Fresh Basil Pesto Sauce (aka: Pesto alla Genovese) is a Northern Italian sauce made with primarily fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts, and 2 kinds of cheese. It’s a simple sauce that requires no cooking, only blending, and it can be used as a condiment or tossed with pasta for a quick dish during the spring and summer months. Only this recipe is nut-free and easy to make in a matter of minutes!

 

Our fresh basil pesto sauce is made with 6 ingredients (not counting salt and pepper) and no nuts! And it is blended into a creamy smooth sauce.  Plus, our recipe is completely nut-free, and still it is SO delicious-tasting – no one will miss the pine nuts, for sure.

What is Pesto Sauce?

Pesto sauce is a green-colored sauce made primarily with fresh basil, olive oil, and grated cheeses. No cooking involved whatsoever. But you will need a good blender or food processor.

The original recipe requires only fresh basil, some pine nuts, and two kinds of cheeses, Pecorino and Parmigiano. And, it originated from Genoa, the region of Liguria, in Northern Italy. But to be prepared strictly with a marble mortar and a wooden pestle. The Ligurians are known for making the BEST pesto sauce in the world.

However, with nut allergies in our family, we have become a “nut-free” home, eliminating all the nuts altogether.

Regardless, even without pine nuts, our pesto sauce is exquisite and positively delicious every time!

 

Reasons You’ll Love Fresh Basil Pesto Sauce:

• It requires no cooking! (We love that!)
• Use it as a delicious condiment! Try some drizzled over pizza, eggs, as well on grilled chicken or baked salmon, and chicken rollatini and cod fillet over pesto risotto.
• Try drizzling some basil pesto sauce on caprese skewers. Dab some on fresh tomatoes and mozzarella.  It’s amazing!
• Add one or two tablespoons to soups for extra flavoring.
• Fresh basil pesto sauce is not only for pasta! You can stir pesto into risotto, drizzle it over fresh veggies. The possibilities are endless!

   

We make it all year long and use it with so many recipes. 

In our family, everyone’s favorite dish is spaghetti with fresh basil pesto sauce – hands down!!

Let’s Discuss: Fresh Pesto versus Buying the Jarred Pesto?

• Fresh is always better! Homemade is always going to be better, and you can actually taste the difference. 
• Best of all, no preservatives, additives or other unknown ingredients, and no seed oils. And, NO Nuts!
• Making it homemade is healthier.
• When you make it homemade, you know you are getting quality ingredients. Not a fake, imitation sauce.

Take our word for it…  It’s worth taking 5 minutes of your time to make it fresh.  Fresh is always BEST!

Ingredients Needed For Fresh Basil Pesto Sauce:

For our basil pesto sauce recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

• 2 to 3 bunches of basil – about 5 cups or more – packed
• 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (plus extra as needed)
• 4 garlic cloves – chopped (about 3 tablespoons)
• 3/4 tsp. of salt
• dash of cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp. of fresh cracked pepper, and extra to taste
• 3/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Pecorino-Romano cheese

Can we freeze pesto sauce?

Yes, you can. One recommendation is to spoon the pesto into your ice cube trays and drizzle a small amount of olive oil over the tops of each of the cubes. Then freeze the ice trays for a few hours until solid. Remove the frozen pesto cubes, add them to a large plastic food storage bag, and label it along with the date. Then drop them into your soups, or add a few to your skillet chicken dishes, etc. The possibilities are endless.

Some Recipes & Dishes to use Pesto Sauce:

Here are a few additional dishes you can use fresh basil pesto sauce from 2 Sisters Recipes:

• Chicken Rollatini with Pesto and Mozzarella
• Easy Cheese Ravioli with Pesto Sauce
• Flounder Filet Rollatini  
• Seared Sea Scallops Over Pesto Sauce
• Cod Fillet Over Pesto Risotto 

Keep in mind that if you have family members who have nut allergies.  Omit the nuts completely! 

Here’s a Helpful Tip:
Keep our pesto sauce in an air-tight jar, refrigerated.  Add a small amount of olive oil on top of the sauce in the jar after every time you use some.  It will stay fresh for up to 3 months. 

If you make our fresh basil pesto sauce, let us know and leave a comment with a star rating!  We’d love to hear from you.  Sharing your insights and experiences helps everyone who reads them, and helps us too!  Snap a photo and share it on social media, be sure to tag us @2sistersrecipes or hashtag #2sistersrecipes. 

Craving for More Pesto Recipes? 

Here are a few more ideas from 2 Sisters Recipes. These are also fresh tasting and delicious over pasta, and they won’t disappoint. Try them!

• Easy Kale and Spinach Pesto Sauce
• Spinach Pesto Sauce   

For more delicious recipes, follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!  

Happy and Healthy Cooking! 🙂

xo Anna and Liz