Pesto

This is a traditional Italian sauce which is ultra flavourful, fresh, nutty and absolutely easy to make.

Made with handful of fresh ingredients, this is quick and versatile. Use it as a spread on your sandwiches, or as a pasta sauce or just as a dip, this recipe won't disappoint you.

Here's how it is made.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed

• 1/2 cup or 55 gms freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano cheese

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

• 1/3 cup pine nuts

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• 1/4 teaspoon salt, adjust according to taste

• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, adjust according to taste

Method:

• Roast the pine nuts in a pan on low to medium heat for about 2 minutes.

• In a food processor, add the basil leaves and pine nuts and pulse a several times.

• Add the garlic and Parmesan cheese and pulse several times more. Scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula.

• Slowly add the olive oil continuously while still running the food processor. Adding the olive oil slowly, while the processor is running. This will ensure the olive oil blends in well with the basil, cheese mixture.

• Occasionally stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor.

• Add salt and pepper according to your taste and pulse for one last time.

Your pesto is ready to be spread onto crackers or toasted slices of bread. You could also make pesto pasta.

Enjoy people!!