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Pesto Sauce Recipe

Pesto Sauce Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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I like to serve the pesto over butter gnocchi with an extra sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Gnocchi are light little Italian potato dumplings, which are available in Italian grocery stores and cook up in mere minutes. The pesto is also delicious tossed with penne or other types of pasta. —Sue A. Jurack

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Pesto Sauce Recipe

Prep/Total Time: 15 min.

Yield: 4 Servings

15 15

Ingredients

3/4 cup loosely packed basil leaves
2 tablespoons pine nuts or sunflower kernels
1 garlic clove, peeled
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Place the first five ingredients in a small food processor; pulse until chopped. Continue processing while gradually adding oil in a steady stream. Add cheese; pulse just until blended. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months. Yield: 1/2 cup.

Editor's Note: When freezing the pesto, leave about 3/4 inch in the top of the container, then cover the top with a thin layer of olive oil, so the pesto doesn't brown during freezing.

Nutritional Analysis: 2 tablespoons equals 217 calories, 22 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 5 mg cholesterol, 420 mg sodium, 1 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 4 g protein.

Originally published as Pesto Sauce in Test Kitchen Favorites 2004 , p224

Pine Nuts

Also know as pignolia or pinon, the pine nut is the small seed from one of several pine tree varieties. They are small elongated ivory-colored nuts measuring about 3/8 inch long and having a soft texture and a buttery flavor. Frequently used in Italian dishes and sauces such as pesto, pine nuts are often toasted to enhance their flavor.

Light-Bodied White Wine

Enjoy this recipe with a light-bodied white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.

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Pesto Sauce

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(1-1) of 1 reviews

Reviewed on Jul. 31, 2011 by AINTDEADYET

I made this today and it was great. I didn't have any pine nuts or sunflower seeds and ended up useing walnuts. Also, I added one bunch of parsley to the mix along with the fresh basil from my garden and a splash of lemen juice and about 6 cloves of garlic. It came out great. There are many variations of pesto. However, this one is the basic recipe and I just made it my own.