Monday, March 21, 2011

Fresh Basil Pesto

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At our place pasta means pesto pasta and that too basil pesto is the most common sauce we prefer for pasta.I generally get a small pack of basil which is just enough for the one time preparation of pasta.So I always make it fresh and use it immediately,so never got to photograph it and post it here.Recently I found a store where I can buy bulk quantity of this flavorful basil at really low price,so I got excited and ordered 200gms of basil which was a really huge quantity for me.I decided to make pesto out of it and tried to store it for long and I used it in pastas a couple of times and as a spread for my daily sandwiches and also in salads.It was really handy to use it when required in small or larger proportions.I have taken this photograph after 5-6 days after I prepared pesto,look at it still it looks fresh.You can check another version of my pesto, spinach pesto pasta here.

Ingredients:
200gms,roughly 4-5 cups loosely packed fresh basil
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil(EVOO) + 3 tbsp EVOO to store the pesto
1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
4-5 garlic pods
3/4tsp roughly ground pepper
juice of 1/2 lemon
salt to taste

Method:
  • Separate the basil leaves from the tiny stems and wash them and let them drain all excess water.Try to spread over a kitchen towel to remove excess moisture.
  • In a mixer add basil leaves,pine nuts/walnuts,garlic pods,pepper,add half the quantity of olive oil,lemon juice,parmesan cheese,salt and ground to a medium coarse paste.Add the remaining olive oil in stages in between to ease the process of grinding.Do not add water to grind it,the EVOO and lemon juice them selves are enough to grind into a uniform paste.
  • Now check for the taste and adjust the salt for the pesto.
  • Take a clean glass jar and pour a tsp of EVOO in the bottom and scoop in two 2tbsp of pesto and again pour a tsp of EVOO over it and scoop in pesto and repeat the process and make sure you pour 2 tsp EVOO over the top.If you layer you pesto with EVOO, you can store the pesto for upto 7-10 days and use it when required.
Use it in pastas,salads,spread on toast or sandwiches,gnocchi etc.

Notes:
  1. Traditionally pine nuts are used to make pesto,if not available you can substitute with walnuts.
  2. I have used more quantity of EVOO which helps it in storing for long and use it when required.Might be the top layer of pesto turn slightly dark,but inside it stays fresh and looks freshly ground.Use a clean spoon all the time and make sure olive oil floats on top of pesto all the time.
  3. You can reduce the amount of parmesan cheese added and while making pasta you can use bechamel sauce for extra creaminess and richness.
  4. For a Vegan version avoid parmesan cheese while making pesto,it tastes even delicious without cheese in it.

46 comments:

Padmajha said...

This is on my to do list for a long time.Thnaks for the recipe :).Lovely clicks ...

Hari Chandana P said...

Very new to me.. looks awesome !!

Indian Cuisine

Unknown said...

Looks fresh and nice clicks

Sanyukta Gour(Bayes) said...

looks yum n delicious...lovely pics...

Archana said...

This is beautiful. I hope I will do justice to the recipe. Thanks for sharing.

cocoa and coconut said...

How delicious with pasta! Though I love pesto on bread with cheese too. A crowd pleasing recipe, I think.

Smita P said...

Wanted to make this since long... finaly this one is gr8 reminder... going to make it now.. :)

Jeyashris Kitchen said...

amazing click and love the recipe of pesto

Raks said...

Never tasted this before,must try it out and eat with pasta!

Priya Suresh said...

Just love basil pesto with pastas, wat a great looking pesto..

Indian Khana said...

I love pesto n this looking very tempting ...

Savi-Ruchi said...

pesto looks perfect Prathy!

Khaugiri said...

Lovely!!!

Sensible Vegetarian said...

Basil Pesto is one of my favorites, this looks perfect.

Sravs said...

Very new to me !!! Pesto looks perfect and delicious !!

Reshmi Mahesh said...

Looks yummy and perfect..

Sushma Mallya said...

Pesto looks so perfect lovely colour as well Prathibha:)

Akila said...

yummy pesto pasta...

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Priya Sreeram said...

the pesto looks delish !

aipi said...

I love love pesto and basil pesto is my top fav..loved the gorgeous green color very much..


US Masala

divya said...

Very inviting and delicious !!!

Unknown said...

perfect addition to pasta...very fresh looking and inviting surely!
Smitha
Smitha's Spicy Flavors

Harika baratam said...

Creative dish and new to me.

Swathi said...

I planted some basil , I will make this pesto after they grown. Love it.

sathya said...

Wonderful pesto, lovely color!

Priyanka Agrawal said...

mmm nice

Pushpa said...

Refreshing and delicious pesto.

Unknown said...

This is our fav too, love it with pasta..Thanks for the recipe..Superb clicks!

lubnakarim06 said...

Never tried pesto till now...will love to try this someday....looks yum...

Sharmi said...

very nice pesto! a must try!

Parita said...

Lovely clicks! Looks very inviting!

Laavanya said...

I absolutely love pesto - so fresh and tastes of summer!

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Mmmmmmmmm love love love it a lot. Easy and handy stuff for daily BF.. looks yumm.

Mrs K said...

Thanks pratibha for stopping by and your lovely comment.You have an exciting blog and some even more exciting recipes:)I have added myself to your list of followers and look forward to more excitement. The fresh home made pesto sounds and looks terrific and if you had not mentioned it was 5 days old/new I would have though you just scraped it off the mixer this minute:)

Chitra said...

Very new to me .. looks nice..

Renus Kitchen said...

have never tried pesto sauce...will give it a try

Pavani said...

Pesto looks to die for. Soooo vibrant and fresh.

Bharathy said...

The best pesto I've ever seen!!Perfect!!

Suganya said...

Can smell the freshness of the basil in ur picture... Perfect... YUM!

Unknown said...

I am bringing my pasta and coming right over - Wonderful pics - digging the green Delicious Pesto

Rachu said...

aah wht a fresh recipe.. so green and refreshing
ammaandbaby.blogspot.com/

Cham said...

The color is intact. Bright and delicious pesto!

Unknown said...

My husbands fvrt..he is have to have this even with dosa..that much crazy he is..thanks for the post.

kittymatti said...

looks yummmm...such lovely pics:)

Unknown said...

Nice receipes

Unknown said...

Nice Receipes

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