This afternoon I made pesto for the first time this year. It’s May 3rd, and I’m making pesto. Life is good! Not only is pesto easy to make, but it freezes well too. And I plan on freezing a whole lot of pesto this summer let me tell you.
Slightly Adapted from Simply in Season
Ingredients
1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, shredded
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 olive oil
Toss everything into a food processor or blender and pulse until it turns into a thick paste.
Serve immediately over warm pasta, with crackers or use as a spread in a hot panini sandwich. What you don’t use, simply pour into ice-cube trays and freeze until solid.
Place the frozen pesto cubes in a freezer bag, date and store in the freezer until ready to use.
Simply in Season is an easy to read cookbook full of delicious recipes. The book is broken down by seasons so you’ll know exactly what meals to prepare as the fruits and vegetables start to roll in from your garden or at the local produce stand. I LOVE this cookbook and give it 2 big thumbs up! Amazon currently has Simply in Season on Sale for $13.59.
*Amazon prices are subject to change without notice.
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If you want to freeze bigger portions (like say dinner size), you can also freeze in muffin tins to get bigger cubes. I love pesto – wish my kids did too. I can only get one to eat it so far…
My kids are anti pesto as well unless I add a bit of alfredo sauce to it and then they will eat it up.
They love alfredo – I’ll have to try that…
Mavis,
Have you every made Basil Jelly? I found a recipe in Taste of Home, thought maybe I would give it a try this year.
Linda
I freeze pesto in tubes — by rolling it sushi style in parchment paper — then I can slice off as much as I need.
how much pine nuts? 1/3 cup?
Yes. I just updated the recipe. Thanks
I freeze mine in 1/2 pint size jars, this seems to be a good amount for us. I love pesto, but my kids have to have some alfredo or cream cheese mixed with it as a sauce for their pasta.
On another note, I love your blog. At first I thought that’s great, $100 a month for groceries, another one of those sites. But I was so wrong! I love checking in a few times a day to see what’s going on, and I really love your garden and the totals you post. I live in suburbia, so I can totally relate.
I also enjoyed the pictures from your trip, looked like a great trip. Keep up the great blog, I really enjoy it.
Thanks Sakura.
Had to type a comment to ‘pin’ it for me…:)
I love this recipe! I come back to this page every time we make it.
Pine nuts are very $$. Walnuts are a good substitute. Love your blog !!