This is how I make my basil pesto from fresh basil leaves! In a nutshell, I use about three cups of fresh basil (no they don’t have to be dry, but do wash them!). Or fresh herbs?

Nothing better! This one is so good that you won't even miss them. It turns out that traditionally, Italian grandmothers are going to opt for a chopping block and knife instead of an electric outlet and blender. Off the bat, this method may seem out of the ordinary. :) It'll take about five minutes to make. For vegan pesto, you will need basil, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper and either pine nuts or walnuts. Pesto Without Nuts: My boyfriend is allergic to nuts, so I had to figure out how to make pesto without the pine nuts. This homemade spinach pesto recipe is easy to make without basil, packed full of healthiness, and looks oh so pretty! Yum!

I used to rely on the big ol’ Costco size containers of Costco until I discovered just how easy it is to make your own basil pesto. On any given day you can walk in our house and find a collection of pesto in the fridge and in the freezer for pesto chicken pizza, grilled chicken pesto pasta, and sheet pan chicken, just to name a few!. Mix with a processor of some sort ( nutri-bullet, food processor, mortar ), with a clove of garlic, and 1/3 Cup of extra virgin olive oil.

Traditional Pesto Making. It is an absolutely fantastic way to use herbs. Adding the liquid first, rather than last, helps. One recipe lasts for a while (depending on what you use it for) and is a great way to use spinach that is on its way past prime. The process of making pistou is similar to making a regular pesto sauce (after all, it really is just pesto without pine nuts and cheese), but it can be a bit of a challenge blending up the fresh basil until smooth.
In our home, we are huge pesto fans.