One of the toughest changes when adapting to our grain-free way of life was discovering substitutes for traditional Italian meals. Ingredients like pasta, mozzarella cheese, and gnocchi are tougher whenever you’re gluten-free and dairy-free.

While we’ve since included some dairy and grains back into our meals, I’ve discovered I nonetheless just like the healthy different recipes I created through the years. This straightforward pesto recipe with recent basil is one of these. Fresh pesto sauce with garlic cloves and recent basil has nothing on store-bought variations!

Best Pesto Recipe From Scratch

While store-bought pesto isn’t horrible, it’s onerous to search out one with out unhealthy vegetable oils. Thankfully, basil is one of the best herbs to grow. I don’t have a lot of a inexperienced thumb, however even I can’t appear to kill it. In reality, one summer time, we had three foot tall basil plants take over the garden.

I made huge batches of this pesto when the basil was prepared for harvest and froze it to make use of all 12 months! This was a lot simpler for the reason that pesto was able to go at any time when I needed it.

Best of all, basil has a entire listing of makes use of as a natural remedy in tonics, teas, and more. I tie any unused basil by the stems in bunches and hold them upside down to dry for future use. (Placing the basil in a paper bag is advisable to catch any crumbling leaves.)

Pesto Recipe Ingredients

Most pesto recipes depend on parmesan cheese or pecorino romano for a creamy tang. This model although is dairy-free (however nonetheless full of taste!). Pesto is basically a puree of recent basil, nuts, olive oil, and garlic. It has a beautiful inexperienced shade and packs fairly a taste punch.

Many variations call for toasted pine nuts, however I exploit almonds as an alternative. You may additionally strive pecans, pistachios, cashews, or sunflower seeds for a nut-free model.

How to Use Pesto

There are loads of alternative ways to make use of this scrumptious sauce! It tastes good with virtually any Italian or pasta dish. I’ve even added a dollop of it on omelets, coconut flour biscuits (with savory fillings), and grain-free bread. Here are a few more concepts for how to make use of your pesto:

Storing Homemade Pesto

I discussed earlier that I wish to make this in huge batches to retailer for later. If you don’t have that a lot basil readily available, then it additionally works properly within the fridge and might preserve for up to 2 weeks.

For an straightforward single-serve model I additionally wish to pour the pesto into an ice dice tray and freeze. Then merely pop them out and retailer the cubes in a freezer-safe container. This manner you possibly can thaw out as many cubes as you need at a time.

pesto recipe

Basil Pesto Recipe

Fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil… what might be higher?

  • 2 cups recent basil (packed)
  • ½ cup raw almonds
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ¼-1/2 cup olive oil (to desired consistency)
  • salt (to style)

  • Put basil, almonds, and garlic in a blender.

  • Turn the blender on and slowly add the oil till the pesto is the specified consistency.

  • Add salt to style.

  • Use straight away or retailer within the fridge or freezer.

Nutrition Facts

Basil Pesto Recipe

Amount Per Serving (2 TBSP)

Calories 114
Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Polyunsaturated Fat 2g

Monounsaturated Fat 8g

Sodium 1mg0%

Potassium 86mg2%

Carbohydrates 2g1%

Fiber 2g8%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 316IU6%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 36mg4%

Iron 0.6mg3%

* Percent Daily Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie diet.

To freeze pesto, I wish to put a few tablespoons in every compartment of an ice dice tray. When they’re frozen I dump them in a bigger container with a lid and retailer them within the freezer.

Other Homemade Condiment Recipes:

How do you want basil pesto? Share under!