I made the exact right choice by planting a TON of basil in my garden this year. The above image is what happened after I scattered an entire package of sweet basil seeds across a small area in my raised garden bed. It’s so beautiful, and smells SO good!
I’ve been enjoying it so much these last few weeks… eating lots of Caprese salad, Margherita pizza, and, of course, SO much pesto.
Basil is one of my favorite herbs to support your health. It contains antioxidants, is anti-inflammatory, supports liver function, and may even help protect against skin aging. Here are 11 other standout spices and herbs that support your health.
Here’s the recipe I’ve been using to make homemade pesto from the garden. It’s sweet, savory, delicious, and really easy to make.
Sweet Basil Pesto Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh basil leaves (packed tight)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup pine nuts
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Juice from 1 whole lemon
- Pinch of salt and pepper (to taste)
Directions
- Wash and dry the basil leaves
- In a food processor, add all of the above ingredients. Process until smooth.
I use a large KitchenAid food processor, similar to this one on Amazon.
I’ve been storing each batch of pesto in a mason jar, and it keeps for about 1 week.
It’s delicious on crackers or crostini, on pizza as a sauce replacement, as a sandwich spread, and with pasta. I made a scallop and pasta dish the other night with pesto sauce and it was oh, so delightful 😋
What’s your favorite way to enjoy pesto?
If you try this basil pesto recipe, please come back and let me know how it turns out! I hope you enjoy!
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