A Traditional Italian Pesto Recipe: Presto Pesto
If you’ve never tried a traditional Italian pesto recipe for pasta, you’re missing out on a fabulous
flavor combination. Basil is one herb that loses some of
its flavor when dried, so pesto is a great way to capture
that unique fresh basil taste.
To make pesto, start with a couple of big handfuls of fresh
basil leaves, plus some parsley if you have it. Chop the
herbs in a food processor or blender along with a few
cloves of garlic, 1/2 cup or so of pine nuts (walnuts also
make a fine substitute) and enough olive oil to blend
everything together. You can add the final ingredient,
Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 cup), or wait and add it when
you use the pesto.