Fresh Basil Pesto

Pesto can be used in a variety of ways
such as on chicken, spaghetti squash or fish.

Pesto. A classic sauce originating from Italy. Did you know it is considered a wholesome food? The basil and the pine nuts are nutrient dense ingredients, the olive oil offers needed healthy fats and the garlic provides compounds with various health benefits.

2 packed cups fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
3 garlic cloves, minced
Sea salt and pepper to taste

Place skillet on medium/low heat. Once hot, add pine nuts/walnuts. Be sure to stir nuts constantly using your wooden spoon, as they release oils quickly and might burn faster than you think (don’t let them burn!). You want the nuts to be toasty and brown. Remove the nuts from skillet and let them cool on a plate.

Put the basil, garlic and nuts in a food processor and pulse until everything is chopped. Add the olive oil  and pulse again until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Enjoy immediately or make a bigger batch and freeze the leftovers.

Ice cube trays make a good vessel to freeze the finished pesto. Simply pour the pesto in the small cubes and freeze. When making a recipe with pesto, thaw a couple of cubes and you’ve got your pesto.