Fresh Basil Pesto Freezer Directions Food

FRESH BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Combine basil and garlic in food processor and blend into a fine paste.
• Add pine nuts and cheese. Process until smooth.
• With machine running, pour olive oil into feed tube in slow, steady stream and mix until smooth and creamy.
• Transfer pesto into container. Cover surface of pesto with olive oil.
• Seal with a tight fitting lid.
• Refrigerate up to 3 weeks or freeze.
• Stir oil into pesto before serving.

HOW TO MAKE AND FREEZE BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• To toast pine nuts, place on a baking sheet in an even layer and bake at 350 for 6-7 minutes until browned.
• In a large food processor, pulse together basil, parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice and zest.
• Slowly drizzle in the olive oil and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Place basil, garlic, nuts, and olive oil in food processor fitted with a metal blade.
• Process until fairly smooth, wiping down sides once or twice if needed.
• Add cheese, salt, and pepper and give it a quick whirl to mix.
• Use immediately or freeze in ice cube trays.
• Once frozen, pop them out and place into freezer zip-lock bags (date the bag w/sharpie).

FRESH BASIL PESTO WITH VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Fit your food processor with the steel blade attachment. To bowl add basil, garlic, oil, pine nuts, salt and pepper. Pulse several times, scraping bowl if needed, and continue until the mixture is a smooth paste. Add a tiny bit of oil if mixture gets too thick.
• When the consistency is right, transfer to a small bowl and fold in the shredded parmesan cheese.
• To Serve: Stir a few tablespoons of pesto with a splash of cooking water from your favorite pasta and toss with hot pasta until coated. Use as a condiment on grilled panini sandwiches, on toast points for an appetizer, as a pizza sauce, or garnish your fresh soup with a few teaspoons.
• To Store: Cover with a thin layer of olive oil or spray with non-stick cooking oil and keep in the fridge for several weeks. For long-term storage fill ice cube trays with pesto, freeze and then pop out into a resealable plastic bag. Thaw just the right amount of fresh pesto for your meal any time you want it!
• *NOTE: Other aromatic herbs, nuts, oils or hard cheeses can be used in place of or in combination with the basil, pine nuts, extra virgin olive oil and parmesan. Keep in mind the herb is the star of the show and should have the most prominent flavor when mixing and matching ingredients. Also, consider the rest of your meal and what fresh flavors might compliment it best. Have fun experimenting with some of the following!
• Herbs: fresh cilantro, spinach, oregano, sun-dried tomatoes; Italian flat leaf parsley can be used by itself but is also great to use with any of the other herbs when you may be running short on them.
• Nuts: Walnuts, almonds, pecans.
• Flavored Oils: porcini mushroom, walnut, lemon, rosemary, raspberry.
• Cheeses: parmigiano-reggiano, asiago, romano.

FREEZE IT: BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Spread nuts evenly on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven until golden and fragrant, tossing once, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, bring 4 cups salted water to a boil; add basil, and submerge with a spoon. Immediately drain in a colander. Rinse with cold water until cool, then pat basil completely dry in paper towels.
• In a food processor, combine nuts, basil, and garlic; season generously with salt and pepper. Process until nuts are finely chopped. With machine running, pour oil in a steady stream through the feed tube; process until smooth. Use immediately, or freeze. To freeze, spoon pesto into an ice-cube tray (2 tablespoons per cube); cover with plastic wrap. Freeze overnight, then transfer cubes to a resealable plastic bag; keep up to 6 months. Defrost pesto at room temperature, about 20 minutes (or at 30-second intervals in the microwave). Mash with a fork before using in recipes.

FRESH BASIL PESTO - FREEZER DIRECTIONS

Steps:

• Put the basil, garlic, pine nuts, and salt in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Drizzle olive oil. Taste and add more salt if needed.
• If freezing: line ice cube trays with plastic wrap. Scoop pesto into trays using 1-2 tablespoons of pesto per "cube." Freeze. Put in ziplock after solid. To use: Thaw and add cheese.
• If using fresh: Add the cheese and process a few seconds until just incorporated.
• Enough pesto for a pound of pasta and recommended it tossed with linguine, capellini or meat or cheese tortellini.

BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.
• If freezing, transfer to an air-tight container and drizzle remaining oil over the top. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and stir in cheese.

FRESH BASIL PARSLEY PESTO

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in food processor.
• Cover and puree until smooth.
• Refrigerate for several weeks, or freeze for 6 months.
• Toss with hot pasta.