Pesto. There are so many different ways to enjoy it. Personally, parsley pesto is my favorite, with basil a close second. I especially love to freeze pesto and pull it out in the months long after the herbs in my garden are done for the season. It can be used in sauces, soups and as a topping for pizza.
The color isn’t quite the vibrant green you’re used to with freshly made pesto, it turns a bit darker, but the flavor is just as delicious. This recipe made 2 ice trays worth of pesto for freezing.
Basil Pesto
adapted from Martha Stewart Living
8 cups lightly packed, fresh basil leaves
1 cup pine nuts or walnuts
2 garlic cloves
2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and pepper
In a food processor place basil leaves, garlic cloves and nuts; season with salt and pepper. Process until nuts are finely chopped. With food processor running stream in olive oil and continue processing until smooth. Use immediately, or freeze.
To freeze place spoonfuls of pesto in ice cube tray. Pop out individual pesto cubes for thawing and use as needed.
What are your favorite ways to save the flavors of the growing seasons? Canning? Freezing? I’d love to hear…
Alison
Exactly the way I do it, except I add some parmesan cheese (but I think you don’t eat cheese, right?). What is also good is replacing the pine nuts with almonds.
Lori–I haven’t tried almonds before, but always have them around. Great idea! I usually add the parm after the pesto is thawed. We still eat some cheese, just have cut back.
I freeze pesto at least 3 times during a growing season, and usually do it multiple ways. I often add sundried tomatoes or artichoke hearts to the mix, which make it heartier.
Other favorite preserving are pickled hot peppers (either jalapenos or hungarian hot peppers) – boil sliced peppers for a minute or two in a mixture of spices and apple cider vinegar then strain and put in jars. Then I fill the jars with seasoned olive oil (usually peppercorns, garlic, and coriander or cumin) and freeze. The peppers are amazing on quesadillas and pizzas!
Wow Anya, that all sounds wonderful! I think I need to try adding artichokes to the pesto. Love them. We have tons of jalepenos and banana peppers too. I will have to try your suggestions. Thank you!
Hi!
Thank you so much for the great recipe! I love the pictures.
I adapted your recipe a bit and linked back to you in my blog.
Thank you again for the great blog!!
http://twointhenestmama.blogspot.com/2012/06/basil-pesto.html
Margaret
Two in the Nest
When you put the pesto in ice trays, do you cover the tray with foil? saran wrap? I have never frozen pesto of any kind so I don’t want to mess it up….thanks!
For the parsley pesto, do you just follows the recipe and use the parsley instead of the basil?