Welcome to The Best Pesto Recipe with Pine Nuts! My mom's homemade pesto has been legendary for decades! You'll love this fragrant, delicious sauce featuring fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, Pecorino Romano and Parmesan cheeses.
My family's been eating pesto since 1982...long before it was fashionable in America. We first tried it in the Italian province of Liguria, near Genoa, where pesto was invented.
We even tried a blonde walnut pesto, which was delicious too.
And, while it seems basil pesto is everywhere nowadays, I've never tasted any as good as Mom's. It's simply The Best Pesto with Pine Nuts!
She adapted it from a recipe in an Italian magazine, deciding to use a combination of Pecorino Romano and Parmesan cheeses for the best flavor.
Friends, this is one of my favorite recipes on Cooking with Mamma C. If you have a nice quantity of basil leaves, you must try this!
Recipe ingredients
Basil: Fragrant Genovese basil with large, corrugated leaves brings the best flavor to pesto. Genovese basil is a type of sweet basil and is often sold in flat plastic containers in the grocery store.
The plants sold in stores usually feature sweet basil with smaller leaves that are 2-3 inches long. They can be used in pesto as well.
Pecorino & Parmesan: Mom's recipe calls for a 50-50 combination of imported Pecorino (made from sheep's milk) and Parmesan, achieving the perfect balance of salty and sharp flavor.
Make sure to use freshly grated cheese for the best taste and texture.
Pine Nuts: Known as "pignoli" in Italian, pine nuts are actually seeds from pine cones. They have a buttery, nutty taste.
They're quite expensive, so I recommend buying them at Costco and storing them in the freezer to keep them fresh. You can use them to make Pignoli Cookies too!
Feel free to omit the pine nuts from your pesto if needed. Or, use walnuts as a substitute.
How to make it
See the card at the end of this post for the full recipe, but here's an overview.
- Let the basil leaves dry completely after rinsing them and patting them with paper towels.
- Pulse the garlic and pine nuts in a food processor. Add the basil leaves and pulse while drizzling in olive oil.
- Add the Pecorino and Parmesan and process until a creamy paste forms.
Recipe tips
- If you don't have a scale to weigh your basil, you can fill up a 2-cup liquid measuring cup twice with packed basil until it's heaping.
- To achieve the right pesto texture, the basil leaves must not have any moisture on them. After rinsing the basil, pat them with paper towels and air-dry them completely.
How to use pesto
There are many ways to use fresh pesto sauce. But can you guess my favorite?
Stirred into PASTA!! Just boil and drain the pasta, stir in a tablespoon or so of butter, then mix in spoonfuls of pesto until you have enough to generously coat it. You can sprinkle some Parmesan or Pecorino on top if you'd like.
It's delicious with Pasta e Piselli too!
But you also have to try using this Italian pesto for pizza, Pesto Salmon, Pesto Chicken or Pesto Deviled Eggs. It brings the X-factor to everything!
How to store it
Store the Pecorino pesto in a sealed container in the refrigerator with a thin layer of olive oil on top for up to two weeks. (The oil prevents browning.)
Stir the pesto before using it.
How to freeze pesto
You can freeze basil pesto for up to six months. You can use a half-quart container for a larger amount, with a thin, protective layer of olive oil on top.
For smaller amounts, you can freeze the pesto in a covered ice cube tray. When it's frozen, separate the pesto into cubes and place them in a freezer bag.
And, for times when you don't have enough basil, try making this Easy Spinach-Walnut Pesto.
More pasta sauces
Enjoy!
If you try The Best Pesto Recipe with Pine Nuts, please leave a comment and a rating!
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The Best Pesto Recipe with Pine Nuts
Video
Ingredients
- 5 ounces fresh Genovese basil leaves (stems removed; see notes)
- one large garlic clove (or two small)
- 2 Tablespoons pine nuts (can omit if needed)
- ½ cup olive oil
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup freshly grated imported Pecorino Romano cheese
Instructions
- Rinse the basil and pluck off the stems. Pat the basil leaves with a paper towel to absorb excess water and place the leaves on paper towels to air-dry. (See notes.)
- Grate the cheeses, if needed (I use my blender.) Combine the Parmesan and Romano in a small bowl.
- Peel the garlic and place it in a food processor. Add the pine nuts. Pulse until the garlic is cut into small pieces.
- Add the basil leaves to the food processor and pulse until they're broken up, while drizzling in the olive oil.
- Add the combined cheeses to the food processor and process until a creamy paste is formed. There is no need for salt, since the cheese is salty enough.
- Use the pesto as a sauce stirred into pasta or on pizza, chicken or fish. Store the pesto in a sealed container in the refrigerator, with a thin layer of olive oil on top, for up to two weeks. You also can freeze it for up to six months.
Notes
- Genovese basil with corrugated leaves provides the best flavor, but you can use regular sweet basil instead.
- The basil must be air-dried to ensure the leaves have no moisture, in order to achieve the right pesto texture.
- If you don't have a scale to weigh the basil, you can fill up a 2-cup liquid measuring cup twice with packed basil until it's heaping.
- Imported Pecorino Romano (made from sheep's milk) is key for flavor.
Nutrition
(Recipe Source: From my Mom, who adapted it from a recipe in an Italian magazine after we tried pesto in Rapallo, Italy in 1982. OriginalIy published on September 7, 2016 and updated with new photos on July 19, 2018. Now updated with an additional photo and more information.)
Dana says
I really enjoy pesto but I have never thought about making my own... I think I'll give it a go!
Mamma C says
I've enjoyed homemade pesto since I was a teenager and now, nothing compares! I hope you try it, Dana.
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
It definitely took me awhile to come around to pesto, but for the past 10 years or so I am a HUGE fan! I love how versatile it can be, too. Love that you shared your mom's recipe, it looks absolutely delicious 🙂
Mamma C says
I can't imagine life without my Mom's pesto! Thanks, Denise! 🙂
TammyRenea @SanPasqualsKitchen says
That's it. I'm growing basil.
Great recipe, Andrea! Say thanks to your mom! 😀
Mamma C says
If I could only grow one thing, I'd choose basil. I'm glad you like this recipe, Tammy! I'll let my mom know. 🙂
Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser says
Yum-o for sure! Have a great weekend! xo
Mamma C says
Thanks, Cheryl! You too. 🙂
[email protected] says
There is nothing like freshly made pesto....especially when it's Mom's!! Love it!!
Mamma C says
Yes! We wait for the basil to be in season each year, just so we can have Mom's pesto. 🙂 Thanks, Annie!
Tina Dawson | Love is in my Tummy says
My husband's a sucker for pesto! Pinning this!
Mamma C says
I've never had any better! I hope you guys enjoy this, Tina!
Debi at Life Currents says
I love a good classic pesto, and this looks amazing. It's such a versatile sauce. Pasta, bread, potatoes, whatever!
Mamma C says
Ooh, I love to dip my bread in pesto! Potatoes are good with it too. Thanks, Debi!
Ali @ Home & Plate says
Yum...there is nothing like freshly made pesto from basil grown in the garden. I love the use of pecorino romano in this recipe in addition to the parmesan. Lovely!
Mamma C says
Garden basil is the best for sure. I wish I could grow my own without the deer eating it! Thanks, Ali!
Tania Sheff says
This is perfect! I make pesto very often and usually add a little salt. Thanks for sharing!
Mamma C says
It's always good to taste if something needs salt. 🙂 With this combination of cheese, we've found it salty enough, but you could always add more if you'd like.
Beth @ Binky's Culinary Carnival says
I have never made pesto, it's one of those things I always wanted to make but haven't for some odd reason. Yours looks delicious! I thought pine nuts were requisite and like you said, they are so expensive. I've seen walnuts substituted. Have you ever tried that?
Mamma C says
I make a spinach pesto with walnuts but have never tried them in the basil pesto. Thanks, Beth!