A classic Italian sauce that is great with pasta, potatoes, chicken, or fish. Not only is it versatile but it freezes well, too. Pour the basil pesto into an ice cube tray and defrost a cube next time you want to use it.

6 servings

6 ingredients

15 min prep

Ingredients
  • 2 to 3 cloves of garlic
  • ¾ cup of pine nuts, toasted until golden and cooled
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 5 cups sweet basil leaves, washed
  • Sea salt and pepper, to taste
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions
  1. In a food processor, pulse the garlic until finely chopped. Add the pine nuts, cheese, basil, salt, and pepper. Process until finely chopped. Keeping the food processor running, add the oil until well blended. Serve immediately, freeze or cover with plastic wrap and chill until ready to use.

Chef Tips

Pesto freezes incredibly well. Tip it into a 1 quart freezer bag. From the bottom loosely roll the bag in on itself towards the opening. This will flatten out the pesto, get rid of the air and prevent freezer burn. While the bag is still rolled up, seal it. Unroll. Make a note of the date and contents and freeze flat. Break off pieces as needed.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories: 377; Fat: 36g; Saturated Fat: 7g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g; Monounsaturated Fat: 18g; Carbohydrates: 4g; Sugar: 1g; Fiber: 1g; Protein: 12g; Sodium: 343mg

Registered Dietitian Approved

Your recipes, articles, videos, and more content are reviewed by our Registered Dietitian Kate Ueland, MS, RD, CSO, a board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition, to ensure that each is backed with scientific evidence and follows the guidelines set by the Oncology Nutrition for Clinical Practice, 2nd Ed., published by the Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group, a professional interest group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the American Institute for Cancer Researchand the American Cancer Society.

This recipe was originally published on Cook for Your Life. It is used by permission.

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