Pesto II
Fresh basil leaves, pine nuts and freshly grated parmesan cheese come together in this vegetarian — 55 minutes, 6 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 6 steps.
You'll mainly reach for pan and food processor. At easy difficulty across 6 steps, it's a good one for a busy evening. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (3)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Pick the basil leaves from their stems, rinse gently and pat completely dry, as excess water will dilute the pesto.
- Toast the pine nuts in a dry pan over medium-low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, shaking often, until lightly golden and fragrant; let them cool.
- Add the basil, cooled pine nuts and peeled garlic cloves to a food processor and pulse a few times to break everything down into a coarse paste.
- With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture becomes a loose, vivid green sauce, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Transfer to a bowl and fold in the grated parmesan by hand so the cheese stays distinct and the pesto keeps its texture.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste, then loosen with a little more oil if needed. Use immediately over hot pasta, or store in a jar with a thin film of oil on top to keep the surface from browning.
You'll use: Pan · Food processor
Ingredient substitutions
- Parmesan
- pecorino · grana padano · aged asiago
Tips & common questions
How long does Pesto II take to make?
About 55 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 7 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of parmesan?
Try pecorino. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Pesto II vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Pesto II is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Temple of Athena (Paestum) - Facade s W.jpg by PaestumPaestum, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.