Recipe: Genovese Pesto

Genovese Pesto

Makes about 1-1/3 cups, or enough for 1 pound of pasta

Pesto is traditionally served on spaghetti or other pasta, and it also enriches the flavor of soup, bread, pizza, eggs, gnocchi, potatoes and more. Kate's Global Kitchen: Pistou and Pesto contains more information on this classic sauce.

2 cups well packed fresh basil leaves
2 or 3 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Salt

Traditionally, this sauce is made using a mortar and pestle, but most modern cooks rely on a food processor.

In a food processor, process the basil, garlic, and pine nuts until a rough paste is formed. With the machine running, pour in the olive oil in a steady stream. Process until the mixture is combined, then mix in the cheese by hand. (If the sauce is too thick, add more olive oil.) Taste for seasonings and add salt if needed. Store refrigerated with a layer of olive oil on top, up to one week. You may also freeze pesto.

Tip:
For a smoother sauce on pasta, dilute the pesto with a spoonful or two of the pasta cooking water before tossing.

Kate's Global Kitchen

Pistou and Pesto: Basil's Last Stand

Provencal Pistou

Genovese Pesto

Soupe au Pistou
(Vegetable Soup with Pistou)
Potatoes Pistou

Kate's Global Kitchen for September, 2000:

9/02/00 Pistou and Pesto: Basil's Last Stand
9/09/00 Cook Your Wurst! It's Oktoberfest
9/16/00 Feeding the Olympics, Down Under
9/23/00 Eating Australian
9/30/00 Italian Meatballs, My Way

Current Kate's Global Kitchen
Kate's Global Kitchen Archive

This page created September 2000

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