Organic Basil Pesto Sauce at home

This Organic Basil Pesto Sauce, is a cost-effective alternative to store-bought versions. Using fresh organic basil, pine nuts, parmesan, garlic, and olive oil, it’s blended into a vibrant sauce perfect for pasta, paninis, or soups.

Using organic Basil Pesto

Are you looking for a new way to elevate your pasta dishes? Look no further! Check out this delicious and easy basil pesto recipe. Organic Basil Pesto Sauce is easy to make at home and really saves money because buying store pesto is expensive.  The pine nuts are not cheap but it’s cheaper to buy the ingredients even if you don’t grow your own basil.

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Organic basil pesto

Making Organic Basil Pesto Sauce begins with growing basil organically or buying organic basil.  But we choose to grow it since it’s pretty expensive.  In our garden, it’s pretty simple to grow organically since we only have a small contained basil garden.  We buy organic basil seeds and start our plants in a seed tray inside before transplanting them in the garden.    We don’t use any pesticides on our herb garden nor do we use a weed killer.   All weeds are pulled by hand and our plants are carefully checked by hand to remove any harmful pests.     And we only use compost for a fertilizer that is made in our home compost bin.

growing basil in a half whiskey barrel

 In addition to our herb garden, we dedicated one planter for basil.    It produces enough basil for us to enjoy all summer in all our Italian dishes and we make pesto as often as possible.   Basil Pesto and Bruschetta are probably the two most popular ways we use our fresh basil out of the garden

How to Make Organic Basil Pesto Sauce:

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups fresh basil leaves, organic
  • ½ cup organic pine nuts
  • ¾ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
  • ¾ cup olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • salt
  • black pepper

Equipment Needed:

  • Food Processor
  • Measuring Cups

How to make Pesto:

Organic Basil Pesto Sauce

Instructions:

  • Combine basil and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse a few times
  • Add cheese and garlic, pulse several times more (scrape sides of processor as needed.
  • With food processor running , slowly pour olive oil in to emulsify (again scrap sides of processor as needed)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Making Organic Basil Pesto Sauce
  • If not using immediately, place in a tightly sealed container to prevent browning.

Move over, traditional condiments. This homemade basil pesto will have you reaching for the jar instead. Go ahead and start a pot of water to boil some pasta because as soon as you finish this delicious smelling sauce, you will be looking for some pasta.  Enjoy my friends!!

How do you use Basil Pesto:

Using Basil Pesto

Who says you can’t have a taste of Italy at home? Whip up this scrumptious basil pesto and transport yourself to the Mediterranean.

Ways to Serve Basil Pesto:

  • Spread pesto on sandwiches, wraps, or panini or baked into bread recipes
  • Spoon organic Basil Pesto over hot pasta, straight or mixed with Alfredo sauce to make Crema Pesto sauce. 
  • Mix with salad dressing and in soups.
  • Rock your grilled cheese with a layer of pesto.
  • Serve pesto as a dip for bread, crackers, or vegetables.
  • Use pesto as a base sauce for pizza instead of traditional tomato sauce.
  • Whisk pesto into scrambled eggs, omelets, or frittatas, or dollop on top of fried eggs for a flavor boost. 
  • 55 Recipes for Basil
  • Farfalla Pesto Pasta

Can you freeze Pesto:

Yes you can freeze basil pesto.  And here’s how:

  • Make Pesto
  • Spoon the pesto into either old fashioned ice trays or use these Silicone Cube Trays (super easy to remove pesto) Place in freezer and freeze overnight. 
  • After freezing the pods of pesto can be popped out and placed in a ziplock bag or freezer container.   Then you can use as much or little as needed without defrosting all of it.  

These trays could also be used  for chicken broth or beef broth, soups or tomato paste or sauce or ….  Let us know your ideas in the comments below. 

Other Italian Dishes:

 🥣 Recipe

Organic Basil Pesto

5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
Using organic Basil Pesto
Easy Basil Pesto from organic basil
Evelyn Osborn
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Main Course, sauce
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8
Calories 277 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Combine basil and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse a few times
  • Add cheese and garlic, pulse several times more (scrape sides of processor as needed.
  • With food processor running , slowly pour olive oil in to emulsify (again scrap sides of processor as needed)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • If not using immediately, place in a tightly sealed container to prevent browning

To Freeze Pesto

  • Spoon the pesto into either old fashioned ice trays or use this awesome  Prepworks Freezer Pod trays Place in freezer and freeze overnight.
  • After freezing the pods of pesto can be popped out and placed in a ziplock bag or freezer container.   Then you can use as much or little as needed without defrosting all of it.  

Nutrition

Calories: 277kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 5gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 151mgPotassium: 92mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 550IUVitamin C: 2.1mgCalcium: 131mgIron: 1mg
Keyword basil pesto, organic pesto
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5 from 4 votes

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3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Oh, yum! Thanks for posting this recipe. I had no idea it was so easy to make. I have basil growing in my garden; this will be a great use for it!

  2. I've stopped counting how many times I promised myself to make some Basil pesto ! Maybe I should just order a bottle of yours, looks delicious !