BASIL PESTO

Fresh Basil Pesto

The fresh basil in our garden is up to my waist and continuing to spread and grow!  Our garden has been on steroids this year - not quite sure why yet, as we took it down to bare earth and maintained an entirely organic garden and process this year. 

I've been cutting the basil pretty much non-stop and using it in so many things - and everyone loves how the house smells when I bring in a new fresh armload!  The fragrance is out of this world!  I wish I could bottle up the smell and keep it all year around!

​In addition to fresh basil on so many things, we love fresh Basil Pesto.  So very easy to make, and so fresh and flavorful that it is making everyone an addict!

Garden fresh ingredients for Basil Pesto

With so much glorious basil this year, I conducted an experiment this summer.  Call me a crazy mama, but I wanted to see if there was any difference between making a quick fresh batch of Basil Pesto in my food processor, or the old-fashioned way - mortar and pestles are not just for decoration you know!

​This fresh and robust sauce is Italian perfection!  What I discovered is that using a mortar and pestle creates a more luxurious sauce with a rich, deep flavor and perfectly silky and tender texture - far superior to preparing in a food processor, but if you are in a hurry, there is nothing wrong with that either! 

Basil Pesto

Directions for making this delicious pesto both ways are outlined below.   Perfect ratio of ingredients, and methods for making it both ways are included below. 

​Perfect on its own, but I also include Basil Pesto in so many other dishes - more to come!  If you are going to incorporate this pesto INTO a dish, you can also substitute almonds in place of the pine nuts - it will save you some $$'s and won't impact the BAM!

​Wish you could both taste and smell this - it is so wonderful! 

Garden Fresh Basil Pesto