Basil Pesto Recipe

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Serve pesto on fresh pasta, spread on a halved baguette and broiled, or as a pizza topping. This recipe calls for basil, but you can experiment with other herbs such as parsley, thyme, tarragon, and cilantro. If you're a garlic fan, feel free to use more.

Yield: 1 to 1-1/2 cups

• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts
• 1-1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 to 1 cup good-quality olive oil
• 3 ounces Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

In a blender or food processor, combine garlic, basil leaves, nuts, salt, pepper, and half the oil. Puree, slowly adding remaining oil. If using immediately, stir in grated cheese; if not, freeze mixture in zip-lock bag, squeezing out any air. (Pesto turns brown when exposed to air.) Add cheese before serving.