Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe
Its not super easy to get fresh basil in Singapore. Its not impossible either but somehow, when I do come across them in the supermarket, I feel they are wilted and cost too much. Why bother when there are a gazillion different types of other greens around, that are more local.
I did, however, manage to score an entire bag of super fresh basil in Giant supermarket a couple of weeks back. Ooh the flavour was mindblowing. Although I have tried pesto pasta and pesto chicken before in restaurants, making your pesto is way way better! I was a bit skeptical if TH would like it but he actually loved the pesto pasta I made with (recipe coming up next!)
Fresh Basil Pesto
Makes about 3/4 cup
Ingredients:
4 cups fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp minced fresh garlic
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/2 to 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Salt to taste
How I Made It:
Dunk all ingredients into a mixer or food processor and grind to an almost smooth paste. Can be served in various ways, most popular being pesto pasta, over toasted bread, in pizza, etc. Can keep refrigerated in an air tight container for up to 3 days.
You can also substitue the pine nuts for walnuts, sunflower seeds (I tried these once and loved it!), or any other nuts you have in hand.
First two pictures in this post taken in the home made light box for food photography.
I did, however, manage to score an entire bag of super fresh basil in Giant supermarket a couple of weeks back. Ooh the flavour was mindblowing. Although I have tried pesto pasta and pesto chicken before in restaurants, making your pesto is way way better! I was a bit skeptical if TH would like it but he actually loved the pesto pasta I made with (recipe coming up next!)
Fresh Basil Pesto
Makes about 3/4 cup
Ingredients:
4 cups fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp minced fresh garlic
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/2 to 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Salt to taste
How I Made It:
Dunk all ingredients into a mixer or food processor and grind to an almost smooth paste. Can be served in various ways, most popular being pesto pasta, over toasted bread, in pizza, etc. Can keep refrigerated in an air tight container for up to 3 days.
You can also substitue the pine nuts for walnuts, sunflower seeds (I tried these once and loved it!), or any other nuts you have in hand.
First two pictures in this post taken in the home made light box for food photography.
Posts
I tried with spinach and walnuts few days back..difficult to get pine nuts too in SG..isn't it?love the texture and colour of the pesto..waiting for your pasta recipe..
ReplyDeleteWhat is better than this..huhhh??, yummmm fresh pesto!!!
ReplyDeleteYou get organic pine nuts in Fairprice, Sowmya :)
ReplyDeleteI love pesto sauce especially the fresh one!
ReplyDeleteThe pesto looks so colorful..Love this with penne pasta..
ReplyDeleteG
http://ensamayalarangam.blogspot.com
Delicious - nothing quite like homemade pesto!!
ReplyDeleteThis pesto is looking soo yummy. must be very aromatic
ReplyDeleteCook Healthy
Thats a delicious and catchy pesto..
ReplyDeleteLovely,never ever tasted before,will try tasting...Nice clicks :)
ReplyDeleteLove love pesto and your look so so good.
ReplyDeleteLike the bright Color of this Pesto. Homemade sounds so fresh already. Will sure try this one..
ReplyDeleteWhat vibrant colors and tempting Pesto! Just need a toasted bread slice to devour it.
ReplyDeleteOh, you live in Singapore? So lucky! I've always wanted to visit there. I totally agree with you - fresh basil is absolutely amazing, it's one of my favorite things in the WORLD.
ReplyDeleteHi, welcome to visit http://blogguideshare.blogspot.com/ for us sharing knowledge. Appreciate to join as member to this newly blog and to alert newly update.
ReplyDeletewow, love the color of pesto. I am a big fan of pesto sauce and wow on your photography too. Loving it.
ReplyDeleteHey Nags, next time if you can't find basil you can replace it with spinach leaves and 1-2 tbsp of dried basil. It is delicious! I call it Winter pesto because basil doesn't look too good in the Winter months and spinach is widely available not to mention that it is also cheaper :)
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Heg
That's a fantastic tip for making fresh spinach pesto Heg! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteWow! Just when I was looking for a fool-proof recipe of Pesto. Awesomeness this. Bookmarked!
ReplyDeletePS: Like I said before, those pictures look great!
Pine nuts are damn costly and i use walnuts or almonds or both together.
ReplyDeletePictures are great and the pic box is working wonders....should i make one too :)
Healthy recipe...Thank You for the recipe
ReplyDeleteAmazzzzzzing photographs Nags !!!
ReplyDeleteAmazzzzzzing photographs Nags !!! (Earlier was also me, selected the wrong option in the dropdown)
ReplyDeleteI'm making some of this this weekend Nags. Having a craving for pesto and penne.
ReplyDeleteI want to just kiss the basil in the last picture. Kiss it for me will you?
ReplyDeleteI am a hardcore fan of pesto sauce and the picturization is mind blowing.i loudly say wow
ReplyDeletethe moment i saw this pesto recipe i knew i'd be trying it and wen i went shopping, i managed to find everything needed.. ane the first thing i did after coming home was making the pesto..
ReplyDeleteand with the pesto , cooked and yum yum plate of pasta... and it was amazing, to say the very least..
thanks nags!!!
p.s : i am waiting for ur pesto pasta recipe to improvise mine!!!
The picture is soo professional nags! Till I saw your trademark tiny cups/moulds I thought for an instant that you downloaded the image from someplace! Love it!! :)
ReplyDeleteOh thats an aromatic lovely dip
ReplyDelete