Skip to main content
Epicurious

Pesto

When a recipe calls for just a bit of fresh basil, don’t let the rest go to waste—in fact, buy a little extra (three bunches total) and make a delicious pesto. It’s easy!

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients

4 large garlic cloves
3/4 cup toasted pine nuts
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (3 ounces)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 cups loosely packed fresh basil
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation

  1. Place ingredients in a food processor and blend. If not using immediately, put the pesto in a zip-top plastic bag and freeze for up to 2 months.

From The Casserole Queens Cookbook by Crystal Cook & Sandy Pollock. Copyright © 2011 by Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock; Food photographs copyright © 2011 by Ben Fink. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers. Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock, the Casserole Queens, have been delivering casseroles in Austin, Texas, since 2006; they also teach cooking classes at Whole Foods stores in the area. They have been featured on Food Network's Throwdown! with Bobby Flay and Bobby Flay Radio on Sirius XM, as well as on television news and radio talk shows.
TagsSauceItalianEuropeanPine NutNutParmesanCheeseDairyBasilHerbs & SpicesGluten FreeVegetarianQuickEasy5 Ingredients or FewerMeal PrepMake AheadNo-CookFood ProcessorCookbooks
Read More
Mango Sticky Rice
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
Tomato Aguachile
Juicy peak-season tomatoes make the perfect plant-based swap for aguachile.
Easy Egg Custard
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
Double-Tomato Focaccia
This no-knead knockout gets its punch from tomatoes in two different ways.
Simple Hot Cocoa for One
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
Jalapeño Popper Skillet Tacos
Roasted poblanos, jalapeños, and red onion are coated with a melty sauce—warm with the flavors of pepper jack, and stabilized with a block of cream cheese.
Sun Gold Tomato Pasta With Pistachio Gremolata
A garlicky pistachio topping takes this sunny summer pasta from good to great.
Béchamel Sauce
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.