Every year, as the weather starts to heat up at the end of Spring, I buy a basil plant.  The abundant and hardy herb thrives in a colorful pot on our sunny windowsill and provides us with fresh basil all season long. I use large handfuls for fresh pesto, as an accent in summer tomato sauces and soups, and to add a fresh sweetness to Caprese salads and panzanella.

With Autumn slowly creeping in and our basil plant now on its last leg, I decided that the time had come to harvest the remaining leaves and make a fresh basil pesto. I combined the pesto with whole-roasted cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, and a dusting of Parmesan, all over whole-wheat spaghetti, for a flavorful, satisfying vegetarian dinner.


 

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Fresh Basil Pesto

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  • Author: Fork Knife Swoon
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 15 mins
  • Yield: 2 Cups 1x
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Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups fresh basil, packed
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts
  • 2 tbs fresh garlic, chopped
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly-ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Add basil, Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, salt and pepper to a food processor. Pulse to combine.
  2. With the food processor running, slowly add olive oil. Serve immediately with your favorite dish or store in a jar or air-tight container with a layer of olive oil on top for up to a week.