Basil Pesto Recipe
This fresh Basil Pesto recipe is brimming with bright and savory peppery basil goodness! Made with nutritious hemp seeds and a splash of lemon, it's a brilliant condiment that compliments so many dishes.
How to Make the Best Basil Pesto
Fresh basil pesto is one of those essential recipes that every home cook should have in their repertoire. This vibrant green sauce transforms simple pasta, sandwiches, and grilled proteins into something extraordinary. The key to great pesto is using the freshest basil you can find—whether from your garden or the farmers market.
What makes this recipe special is the use of hemp seeds instead of traditional pine nuts. Hemp seeds provide a subtle, earthy flavor while keeping the pesto nut-free for those with allergies. The addition of fresh lemon juice brightens the whole sauce and helps preserve that beautiful green color.
This pesto comes together in just 20 minutes and makes about 1 1/4 cups—plenty for a pound of pasta with some left over. It keeps well in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze it in ice cube trays for months of easy weeknight dinners.
Basil Pesto
This fresh Basil Pesto recipe is brimming with bright and savory peppery basil goodness! Made with nutritious hemp seeds and a splash of lemon, it's a brilliant condiment that compliments so many dishes.
Ingredients
Pesto
Instructions
Making the Pesto
- In a food processor, pulse garlic, hemp seeds (or other nuts), and olive oil until garlic is ground up.
- Add lemon juice, grated Parmesan cheese, and salt.
- Add half of the basil, pulse a few times, then add the remaining basil.
- Process until blended but still a little textured.
- Taste and adjust salt to your preference.
Notes
- This pesto is nut-free when made with hemp seeds, making it perfect for those with nut allergies.
- Pesto freezes beautifully—store in ice cube trays for easy portioning.
- For a vegan version, substitute the cheese with nutritional yeast.
