Basil is the most important ingredient to make a deli deli Pesto Sauce! Basil has a wonderful aroma and leafy beautiful looks, this plant is one of the most widely known and grown herbs in the world. Also provide nutritional benefits, its oils and extracts are said to have antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Fragrant fresh basil offers a healthy dose of vitamin k, a, manganese, and magnesium.
Pesto is like the perfect sauce, easy to make and healthy to enjoy with pasta, potatoes, fish, salads and grilled vegetables of your preference. When I prepare my pesto sauce, I make a big jar to have for more days. With a little bit of creativity is possible to make different kind of pesto but the traditional one is pesto a la genovese which is a sauce originating in Genoa, Northern Italy.
It traditionally consists of crushed garlic, European pine nuts, coarse salt, basil, Parmigiano-Reggiano (Parmesan cheese) and pecorino sardo (cheese made from sheep’s milk), all blended with olive oil. Aaah mamma mia it’s divine!!
I love it in all the ways, but if you want it dairy free, cholesterol free and still yummy, well I make a basic light pesto sauce with crushed garlic or shallots, (for those who don’t like garlic) basil, sea salt and black pepper blended with olive oil. So easily I can modify this sauce adding some ingredients like toasted crushed pistachios, macadamias, walnuts, avocado, or what ever you want just to make it more enjoyable.
Pistachio Pesto Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- ½ cup fresh parsley
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ cup toasted pistachio
- 1 lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- Sea salt and black pepper
- 1 cup olive oil or more if you want
Instructions
Place the toasted pistachios in a food processor or blender for less than one minute, when you see them pretty crushed, remove and reserve apart.
Put the rest of the ingredients (except for the olive oil) in a blender, process to mix well while the blender is running slowly add the olive oil, season with salt and pepper and process to the desired consistency . Transfer the sauce in a jar or glass and add the crushed pistachios mix well. Enjoy it right now, pour some of the sauce on your favorite fish or pasta.
Basic Pesto Sauce
Basic pesto sauce also can be in the refrigerator for 1 week, use it to marinate chicken, fish or vegetables for the grill.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh basil
- 1 clove garlic
- Juice of half lime
- Sea salt and black pepper to your taste
- 1 cup olive oil
Instructions
Put all the ingredients in a blender and process to mix well. Ready! Now use your imagination to transform this basic pesto sauce and enjoy it!