Easy Garden Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe in Just 5 Minutes

Growing fresh basil is easy to do in both indoor and outdoor herb gardens. With proper growing and pruning of your basil plants, you'll have an abundant basil harvest. So what do you do with all that fresh basil? Make Basil Pesto! 

Basil pesto is a natural complement to grilled meats and vegetables. It can be made into pesto butter and melted onto any hot dish. Fresh basil pesto adds an elevated flavor when used on sandwiches or baked into breads. And, of course, it can be added to all kinds of pasta.

This fresh basil pesto recipe is simple and yet so flavorful. 

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 tsp salt

• Place fresh basil leaves, garlic cloves, salt, and parmesan cheese into a food processor and pulse.  
• Stop and scrape the sides with a rubber spatula. 
• Start the food processor again and slowly pour in olive oil, and pulse until fully mixed.

Note:

Basil Pesto can also be made with nuts. Pinenuts are the most common nut to add to pesto. But walnuts or other nuts are also tasty. 

To adapt this recipe for nuts, add 1/3 cup of nuts with the basil.

Try different varieties of basil for a different flavor.  

Each variety of basil has its own distinct taste. You can read more about the different types of basil. They are all easy to grow and you can make basil pesto with one variety or mix a few together for a new fusion.

Basil pesto is best when fresh, but it can be kept refrigerated for up to a week. 

This simple basil pesto recipe is very adaptable. You can use different hard cheeses to change the flavor. Roasted garlic will also change up the taste. You can also try different oils, add other fresh herbs, or use different nuts. 

It's fun to experiment with all the flavors that you can grow in your garden!