Ingredients
- 1 cup basilfresh
- 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, itโs a gourmet upgrade to any dish โ 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 Video
Watch the full cooking process:
๐ก Hit play. Unmute for sound.
Recipe steps
Step 1. Combine Ingredients3 minutes In a food processor or high-speed blender, combine basil, garlic, pine nuts, and grated Grana Padano cheese. |
Step 2. Season Pesto2 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 Immediately1 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 โ 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!
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!
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.
Recipe tips & tricks
Here are my tips on how to make this pesto sauce simply amazing:
- When using pesto for toppings, donโt 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.
This Fresh Basil Pesto is one of my favorite things to make in the summer. Itโs vibrant, aromatic, and bursting with seasonal flavor. Youโll love the bright, sunny taste in every spoonful!
2 comments Hide comments
This is my family’s favorite – we make it every other week, and can’t get enough of it. Thank you!
Happy to hear it, Greg. I put it on so many dishes – incredible flavor. Enjoy! ๐