Chef John's homemade pesto blends basil, garlic, pine nuts, and shredded Parmesan by hand for a more intense flavor that tastes way better than store-bought pesto!
Preparation Time
20 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Calories
181 Calories
Recipe Instructions
Step 1
Transfer a handful of grated cheese to mortar and pound into the sauce. Add another handful of cheese and incorporate into the mixture. Continue adding cheese a handful at a time until completely incorporated, about 5 minutes.
Step 2
Drizzle in olive oil 1 tablespoon at a time, pounding it into the sauce. When all the olive oil has been added and emulsified into the mixture, transfer pesto to a bowl and drizzle the surface with olive oil.
Step 3
Crush garlic and a pinch of kosher salt in a mortar with the pestle until garlic is mashed and paste-like, 1 or 2 minutes. Add basil in 3 or 4 additions, crushing and pounding down the leaves until they form a fairly fine paste, about 8 minutes or more depending on size of leaves and thickness of stems. Add and pound in pine nuts.
