For Professionals

Herb Pesto

Prep time: 10 min

Pesto can be created using a variety of base ingredients such as herbs, greens, and sun-dried tomatoes, as well as additions such as pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and chile peppers, depending on the desired finished result. The herb in this simple pesto are a guideline, so experiment with different choices and amounts until you get the taste you desire. Pesto is wonderful in soups and stews, as a topping for meats and poultry, or stirred into plain pasta for a simple and satisfying meal.

Makes

1 ½ cups

Serving size

1 tablespoon

Ingredients

1 cup packed fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup packed fresh oregano leaves

1/2 cup packed fresh parsley leaves

2 garlic cloves

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Put the basil, oregano, parsley, and garlic in a food processor and pulse for about 3 minutes or until very finely chopped.
  2. Drizzle the olive oil into the pesto until a thick paste forms, scraping down the sides at least once.
  3. Add the lemon juice and pulse until well blended.
  4. Store the pesto in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Cooking Tip

It is best to use extra virgin olive oil in this recipe.

Nutrition Info

Nutrition Info

Makes: 1 ½ cups  Serving size: 1 tablespoon

Calories

22

Fat

2 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Trans Fat

0 g

Cholesterol

0 g

Carbohydrates

0 g

Sugar

0 g

Fiber

0 g

Protein

0 g

Sodium

1 g

Calcium

5 g

Phosphorus

2 mg

Potassium

15 mg

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