Pesto Genovese, or classic Italian basil pesto, is an irresistibly herbaceous 5-ingredient sauce. Use it to elevate a bowl of pasta, drizzle it on a pizza, or spread it on a sandwich. The serving options are endless!
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What is Pesto Genovese?
When you think of a pesto recipe, your mind likely goes to the most traditional version called Pesto Genovese (AKA classic basil pesto or pesto alla Genovese).
This authentic Italian sauce is incredibly savory and herbaceous thanks to its 5 simple ingredients: fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and garlic. Best of all, it’s easy to make at home and takes minutes to blend in a food processor.
“Pesto” translates to “pounded” in Italian, which reflects the traditional way of making this sauce: with a mortar and pestle. Essentially, any sauce that pounds its ingredients into a smooth sauce can be called pesto. This is why pesto recipes aren’t always limited to basil, cheese, and pine nuts. My Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Kale Pesto recipes aren’t traditional but are still technically pesto sauces!
And, while my recipe isn’t made in the traditional way – I use a food processor (instead of a mortar and pestle) to save time and energy, it’s absolutely delicious!
So, when you’re craving the savory, cheesy goodness that is classic basil pesto, you can rely on this pesto Genovese recipe.
Ingredient notes
- Fresh basil leaves – A must in this basil pasta recipe. If you want to keep this recipe true to its Italian roots, use Genoese basil DOP grown in the Liguria region of Italy. However, home-grown basil is just as good.
- Pine nuts – A traditional, albeit expensive, ingredient in pesto is pine nuts. These tiny nuts come with a high price tag because they take years to grow and are labor-intensive to harvest. Feel free to use walnuts as a budget-friendly and just-as-delicious substitute.
- Garlic – Fresh cloves are best.
- Extra-virgin olive oil – Oil emulsifies the pesto, which transforms it into a smooth and cohesive sauce.
- Parmesan cheese – Make sure to grate the parmesan yourself! Pre-shredded parmesan isn’t as fresh or flavorful as the cheese from the block. Again, to keep this recipe traditional to its Italian roots, use a blend of Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino instead.
Can’t find ingredients straight from Italy? Don’t stress. Your pesto will be just as good if you make it with locally sourced ingredients!
How to make authentic Italian pesto
Step 1
Add ingredients to food processor
- Add basil, pine nuts and garlic to the bowl of a food processor.
Step 2
Process until minced
- Process until they’re very finely minced.
Step 3
Stream in olive oil
- With the machine still running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the sauce is smooth.
Tips and tricks
- Adjust the flavors for your taste buds. Add another garlic clove for a savory flavor, use an extra 1 to 2 tablespoons of parmesan if you like extra cheesy pesto, or add a pinch of salt to round out the flavors.
- Upgrade your homemade pesto with roasted or caramelized garlic rather than raw cloves.
- Did you end up with extra basil? Check out my guide on how to freeze basil to preserve it for months.
Ways to use it
- One of the simplest and most popular ways to serve basil pesto is to stir it into a bowl of cooked pasta noodles and gnocchi. It’s also delicious in this pesto risotto or pesto couscous.
- Use it as a finishing sauce on soup, pizza, and roasted vegetables.
- It always fits in on a meat and cheese board! Serve the pesto in a bowl and surround it with crackers, vegetables (fresh or cooked), cheese, and bread for dipping.
- You can also stir a dollop or two into other dipping sauces, like hummus, ranch dressing, or whipped feta.
- Use it as a substitute for red sauce on a homemade pizza.
- Spread it on a grilled cheese sandwich, burger, or an elevated BLT.
- Turn it into this pesto salad dressing or pesto mayo.
- Top your salmon with it in this Pesto Crusted Salmon recipe.
- MORE → 30+ Recipes That Use Pesto
Storing
You can store homemade pesto in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. Add a drizzle of olive oil on top to maintain freshness and prevent the basil from browning.
Freezing pesto is easy, too. Pour the sauce into ice cube trays or silicone molds, then freeze until solid. Transfer the pesto cubes to a ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Erin’s wine pairings
- Viognier is one of my favorite wines to pair with pesto because its mild acidity pairs beautifully with the earthy basil and rich cheese.
- A ripe, full-bodied Chardonnay compliments the brightness in this pesto perfectly.
- The grassy aromas in a Sauvignon Blanc make it an excellent pairing for this herbaceous pesto.
- For a red wine option, try a light-bodied Pinot Noir. It pairs especially well if you’re serving the pesto with creamy dishes, like pasta.
- Need more options? Check out these Best Wine Pairings for Pesto.
More pesto recipes
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Full Recipe
Pesto Genovese (Authentic Italian Basil Pesto)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves (no stems)
- 3 Tablespoons pine nuts (or walnuts)
- 2 large cloves garlic
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Combine basil leaves, pine nuts (or walnuts) and garlic in a food processor and process until very finely minced.
- With the machine running slowly drizzle in the olive oil and process until the mixture is smooth.
- Add the cheese and pulse to just combine.
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