Hey friends and happy September!!
What a gorgeous time of year in Manhattan. The weather is just perfect — a pleasant 73 degrees, low humidity. Perfect for outdoor dining, or taking a walk!

So tonight I wanted to share a recipe that I have been LOVING recently. HOMEMADE PESTO!

It sounds super intimidating, but let me tell you, it is the easiest, MOST DELICIOUS thing you can whip up in the kitchen, that is so versatile, you can literally eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
For this rendition, I served it with broiled codfish, pasta and roasted tomatoes! (Zucchini pasta for me, and regular pasta for a particular gentleman!)

Pesto is typically not vegan because it uses parmasan cheese, but you can easily make it so — or in my case, two versions! — simply by taking out a portion before adding the cheese!

And I always make extra so I have it in my fridge whenever the craving strikes. I like to top my eggs with it in the morning, you can put in on sandwiches, use it as a dip for veggies or crackers, top fish/steak/chicken/tofu, as a topping for baked potatoes, on pasta. The uses are literally endless!

And plus, it’s gluten and grain free, and has a vegan option!

Here’s What You Need:
2 cups fresh basil
1/3 cup pine nuts (optional step: toast them)
juice from 1/2 lemon
1/3 – 1/2 cup GOOD extra virgin olive oil
1 or 2 cloves of garlic (depending on how strong of a garlic flavor you like)
salt and pepper
1/4 cup good, freshly grated parmesan cheese (not from a green canister 😉 ) (Vegan option – omit)
Tools:
Food Processor
Spatula
Frying pan

Directions:
Couldn’t be easier:
First, (and this is optional), I like to toast my pine nuts in a dry frying pan for about 3 minutes over medium low heat until they become fragrant and lightly golden brown. Though optional, this seriously SERIOUSLY adds a depth of flavor that is unrivaled.
Once they’ve cooled for a few minutes, throw all the ingredients into the food processor, except for the olive oil and cheese, and pulse numerous times. You’ll need to stop and scrape the sides several times. Then, start to drizzle in the olive oil while the machine is running. You’ll notice the color and texture begin to change. Scrape the sides once or twice. You’ll know you’ve got enough olive oil when it becomes thick and creamy.
At this point, if you are making vegan pesto, stop here. Or remove some for your dairy-free eaters, and continue on to the final step for the full shabam.
Finally, add the parmesan cheese and pulse until just incorporated. (You don’t want to pulse it too much, because the heat generated from the food processor will melt the cheese.)

ENJOY!
(If tossing with pasta, reserve a few Tablespoons of the pasta water, and mix with the pesto to create the PERFECT sauce consistency!)

Oh my gosh, this was absolutely AMAZING. Pesto has such a bright, fresh flavor that adds a rich and luxuriousness to any dish.
Not to mention, it is visually striking! That emerald green color is so beautiful, and really pops off the plate, especially with red tomatoes and white fish!
I am obsessed. I make this probably twice a week. It is so healthy – full of vitamins, antioxidants, protein and healthy fats! PERFECT!

And to make this meal, drizzle your codfish with 1 tsp olive oil, and the juice of half a lemon, salt and pepper nad fresh rosemary. I then baked it in a 400 degree oven for 18 minutes, until it begins to flake. I served zucchini noodles and “normal” pasta, along with grape tomatoes that I sauteed in a little olive oil on the stove until they began to split. (This really intensifies their sweetness and gives them an amazing texture!) Top the fish with more pesto to serve!
Make this meal! You’ll love it!
“This is what the Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” Ez 37:5

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38 responses to “Easy Homemade Pesto!”
Thank you dear lady, attempt this I shall, it looks good 😀 ❤️ 🙏🏼 🦋
Thanks so much Mark! Hope you love it Amuch as I did! Hugs and love xox
Picture perfect, hopefully I shall be as successful.
Haha thanks! Fingers crossed! It’s a keeper! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
Mmmm… pesto is one of my favorite foods. I could literally eat it like spinach … by the tablespoons full! Than you for this simple recipe for making my own. You pictures are mouth-watering, Caralyn! <3
Thanks so much Jan! Oh my gosh me too it is so delicious!! I hope you enjoy it! Happy cooking! Hugs and love xox
Looks interesting. I’ve never thought of fish on noodles before as I usually simmer the fish in a curry sauce and eat with rice. May give this a try.
Yum! I love pesto, thank you for sharing your recipe!
Beautifully done!
Hello dear ! Great pictures and the food looks delicious 😍😍😍😍 Nice results the toothpaste is really good!🎉🎉🎉💃🏾 Have a Nice day of evening 💋💋💋
Looks very delicious, my dear friend Caralyn 🙂
But do you know what is the best of this recipe?
The one who has made it… a lovely, sweet person 🙂
Hugs and love, my dear friend 🙂
Didi
I only would change the fish with cauliflower as I am vegetarian 🙂
From heart to heart
Didi
Hi BBB, I’ve been living in italy for the past 40 yrs and never heard of putting pesto on fish. I’ll try that. You’ve got the recipe right but we don’t add the lemon juice. I’ll try that too. I’m curious about your zucchini pasta. Do you just slice the zucchini and boil them? Have you tried pesto soufflé? Delicious topped with diced grape tomatoes. You make the pesto and fold it into the egg mixture.
a winning combination – easy to make, tastes good, and is good for you! thanks for sharing your recipe…
I’m baking cod now. I’m missing the pesto, but you reminded me about the 🍋.
Looks like another yummy dish Caralyn❤️kudos to you! hugs XoX
thank you Kamina! oh my gosh it certainly was! Hugs and love xox
I bet! It’s another recipe I plan to try 😋 hugs and love xox
i hope you love it as much as i did!!!
Thank youuuu!!
🙂
This recipe comes at a perfect time. I have an basil plant in my garden that looks as if it came from the Amazon. (As in the forest, not the online entity.) I was just looking at it today, asking myself if I should pot it to bring indoors now that the weather is changing but pesto sounds more practical, since I normally am not successful with indoor plantings. Thanks for planning my weekend for me!
oh lucky you!!! that is so exciting! absolutely nothing beats fresh basil, mmm – my mouth is watering just thinking about it! hahahaha – oh my gosh i cracked up at your line about the Amazon! isn’t that funny that that’s where our mind goes? the way of online shopping ?? haha OOOH yay! you’ll have to let me know how it turns out! and seriously – toast the pine nuts first, it makes a huge difference! just be sure to babysit them! they can burn SUPER easily!! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
Got it! Roast pine nuts first. Roger!
That pesto looks so delish. Might just have to give it a try. Beautiful picture of you by the way!
thank you so much! oh my gosh this pesto was such an absolute treat! i hope you do, and love it as much as i did! Hugs and love xox
Makes me salivate just reading this. I love pesto. The cod looks amazing. Keep the great posts coming😀😀
Thanks Brad!! Isn’t it such a fresh flavor to add to a dish? Thanks so much!! Hugs and love xox
Still waiting on the cooking show 🙂
I agree.
Hahah you’re too sweet!!
Hahaha
That looks amazing.
Thank you!! It was!!
This looks sooo good!!
That looks delicious! 😋
thank you so much! oh my goodness it was!! Hugs and love xox
[…] jazzed up the meal with some pesto cauliflower — which you can make from this recipe — and some sautéed onions/garlic/mushrooms, but let’s be honest, they were just riding the […]