Last updated on February 16th, 2019
Fresh Basil Pesto
Fresh basil pesto is a staple in my house (along with the lemon dressing from this noodle bowl!). it’s both easy to whip together and tastes great. Because of this, an easy pesto pasta is my go to when it comes to quick dinners!
For a long time fresh pesto was something I avoided. It seemed “too much”. However, this sauce contains only six ingredients (all of which you probably have) and is so tasty it’s addicting.
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The pesto is perfectly flavored and works well as a fast pasta dish, as the base to a pesto pizza or even on chicken as a marinade. It’s my personal pasta go to because I love that it adds a few more green veggies to my daughters diet.
… and truthfully I all but devour it 😉
Ingredients In The Fresh Basil Pesto
Makes 1 cup
Pesto Ingredients
- 1/2 cup basil, packed
- 1 cup spinach, packed
- 2-3 cloves garlic (I like my pesto really garlic-y!)
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup parmesean
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
How To Make Basil Pesto
Combine all ingredients into a powerful blender and blend until smooth. Use on pizzas, in pastas or as marinades!
Grab Your Printable!
Fresh Basil Pesto
Ingredients
Instructions
Don’t forget to pin this easy green pesto!
If you’re looking to step your pasta dishes up a notch then you should most definitely go fresh! This basil pesto is full of nutrient dense foods as well as flavor. It makes a great homemade staple for pastas and pizzas.
What about you- are you addicted to pesto sauce?
Looking for more quick meal ideas? Check out this 5 Minute Zucchini Salad!
Wow this looks great and I have a basil plant the is flourishing. I can’t wait to try this basil pesto out! I have had pesto in a few salads and it is very good. It looks a little weird but it has a great flavor.
Cheers
It definitely looks a bit weird when you’re not used to it haha I personally love this pesto over chickpea pasta or marinated onto chicken- so yummy!
Just yummy. WE always make our own Pesto as we have a basil bush in our garden. We use pretty much the same ingredients but instead of blending it up, someone always has to chop the basil into tiny pieces. We just like when not everything is blended too much together. But yours looks really nice too. I might use the blender next time as it will be so much quicker.
Lea, xx
asnippetoflife.com
Yes we have a basil plant too! It’s wonderful because the fresh stuff just tastes so much better. Hrm, I actually never thought to chop it- that’s a wonderful idea! It would be great with some diced tomatoes in a pasta too… back to my kitchen!lol
Can’t wait to try this! It looks incredibly yummy and healthy!
Thanks! I LOVE it on chickpea pasta- so simple but so healthy!
So easy to make and sooo tasty <3 I love a good basil pesto xx
This looks so yummy and healthy! I don’t know how my toddler would like this, but my husband and I love fresh ingredients for our pasta!
Perfect! My toddler loves pesto so I think I luck out- it’s an easy way to get more veggies into her 😉
Yummm this look delicious! I would love to put this on my zoodles!!
Emma | Seeking the South
Mmm that would be tasty! Also yummy on spiralized carrot!
I love Pesto!!! I can’t wait to make this!
Thanks- I love it too! It works on literally everything
This looks really good. I am going to have to try and make this tossing it in some pasta and maybe some chicken.
Making pesto chicken pasta us one of my FAVORITE ways to use this pesto!
Yummy! I absolutely love everything with pesto . Totally want to try this very soon
I’m a sucker for pesto too- works on everything!
This looks delish! I’ve never made pesto before, but this seems to be something I should save for later to put on some pasta, yum!
Thanks Emily! It’s really simple to make and much more potent than store bought- perfect for pasta!
this looks amazingly delicious! cannot wait to try!
Most pesto recipes always use pine nuts which I can NEVER find where I am. Glad to know I can use walnuts instead. Definitely going to try this one!
That was my issue too! That and I won’t snack on leftover pine nuts, they taste funny lol walnuts work really well- enjoy!