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Fresh Basil Pesto
with Grana Padano Cheese

Name: Homemade Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe - Better Than Store-Bought
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 6 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 1 cup basil; 1 clove garlic; 4 tablespoons olive oil; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 1/4 cup pine nuts; 2 ounces grana padano; to taste salt; to taste black pepper

Jump to the recipe:

Time Ingredients Servings Nutrition Recipe Video Steps FAQ Wine Pairings Reviews

This fresh basil pesto is vibrant, aromatic, and ready in just 6 minutes — simple, elegant, and perfect for elevating any dish.

Cooking Time

Total Time

6 minutes

Preparation Time

0 minutes

Cooking Time

6 minutes

Ingredients

Need to adjust?

Serves:

1 cupbasil

1 clovegarlic

4 tablespoonsolive oil

2 tablespoonslemon juice

1/4 cuppine nuts

2 ouncesgrana padano

to tastesalt

to tasteblack pepper

Servings & Nutrition

Servings

Serving Size

2 teaspoons

Calories

198

Fat

19.9 g

Saturated Fat

3.9 g

Cholesterol

8 mg

Sodium

61mg

Carbohydrates

2.1 mg

Fiber

0.7 g

Sugar

0.5 g

Protein

5.1 g

Please note that I am not a nutritionist. The nutrition information is provided for reference only.

Ingredients

1 cup basil
fresh
1 clove garlic
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup pine nuts
2 ounces grana padano
to taste salt
to taste black pepper

This fresh basil pesto is the perfect balance of bold, aromatic, and creamy. Made with vibrant basil, rich olive oil, pine nuts, and Grana Padano, it’s a gourmet upgrade to any dish — ready in minutes with just a few quality ingredients. Whether tossed on lasagna, spread on toast, or spooned over a tomato burrata salad, it adds effortless elegance and flavor without any fuss.

Recipe Videos

Watch the full cooking process:

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Recipe steps

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Step 1. Combine Ingredients 3 minutes

In a food processor or high-speed blender, combine basil, garlic, pine nuts, and grated Grana Padano cheese.

Step 2. Season Pesto 2 minutes

Pulse until roughly chopped. With the machine running, slowly drizzle in olive oil and lemon juice until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 3. Serve Immediately 1 minute

Serve at room temperature for the best flavor. Toss on lasagna, spread on toast, or spoon it over a tomato burrata salad, you name it.

Which season is this recipe best for?

Without a doubt, summer is the best time to make fresh basil pesto. Basil thrives in warm weather, reaching its most fragrant and flavorful peak between June and August. This is when your pesto will taste the most vibrant — earthy, bright, and herbaceous.

Paired with seasonal ingredients like lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil, and blended with buttery pine nuts and Grana Padano, this pesto becomes a smooth, luxurious sauce that captures everything we love about summer: freshness, simplicity, and bold flavor without the heaviness.

Where can I buy the ingredients for this recipe?

Garlic, pine nuts, and olive oil are pantry staples, but for the best flavor, use extra virgin olive oil and fresh garlic.

Grana Padano is available in most cheese sections.

Can I substitute the ingredients in this recipe?

Yes, here is what you could do:

Grana Padano is easy to change with Parmigiano-Reggiano, pecorino, or even Parmesan.

Pine nuts can be swapped with walnuts, almonds, or sunflower seeds.

If basil is unavailable, try arugula, parsley, or cilantro for pesto.

Can I make this recipe part of a menu?

Definitely. Serve it on Tomato Burrata Salad, Mediterranean Baby Baked Potatoes, Breaded Beef Steak, Mediterranean Veal Cutlets, Foil Baked Sea Bream, Mediterranean Baked Trout, you name it!

Recipe tips & tricks

Here are my tips on how to make this pesto sauce simply amazing:

When using pesto for toppings, don’t overdress.
Use Italian Grana Padano cheese, which will give your pesto so much umami flavor.
If making pesto ahead of time, keep components separate and assemble just before serving.

How long can I store this recipe leftovers?

The pesto is best enjoyed fresh, but if you need to store it, I would recommend no more than 3 days. The olive oil may thicken slightly, so before consuming, take it out of the fridge, let it sit in the room temperature for around 15 minutes, then mix and serve.

Which drinks would you pair it with?

This would relate more to the dish you would serve the fresh basil pesto on, but in case of most salads, for example, you would look at Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio that are great to highlight the fresh basil. Encruzado is another one.

As an alternative, you can choose Prosecco to add a special celebration feel to it.

For a non-alcoholic option, opt for iced mint tea, sparkling water with lemon, or basil lemonade. Yum!

This Fresh Basil Pesto is one of my favorite things to make in the summer. It’s vibrant, aromatic, and bursting with seasonal flavor. You’ll love the bright, sunny taste in every spoonful!