Fresh Sweet Basil Pesto Recipe

I can’t think of anything more satisfying than making your own Sweet Basil Pesto. The beautiful smell of freshly picked basil, and the beauty of this deep, gorgeous green sauce spinning in a food processor is just as incredible as the dish itself.

You can find pesto made with all kinds of ingredients nowadays. Carrot tops, arugula, and cilantro are just a few of the possibilities. But my absolute favorite way is this Sweet Basil Pesto recipe! 

During the summer months, I love growing fresh herbs. I can get a ton of fresh basil from just one basil plant. However, you know me, I plant two. It’s considered an annual where we live so I’ve got to get creative before it’s gone. Homemade pesto sauce is one of my favorite things to make because there isn’t anything quite like using something you have grown yourself to feed your family. 

Store-bought pesto just doesn’t match up to a homemade batch of pesto. Once you’ve tasted fresh pesto, I doubt you’ll ever buy it again.

Sweet Basil

Sweet basil has a fresh, aromatic flavor with hints of pepper, mint, and anise. Its taste is slightly sweet and savory, with a mild peppery undertone. Sweet basil is versatile for a wide range of recipes, especially in Italian cuisine like homemade pizza, Tomato Mozzarella Salad, sauces, and Aioli, and side dishes such as our Hasselback Red Potatoes.

Hostess At Heart participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information.

Ingredients for Sweet Basil Pesto Recipe

• Walnuts – We cut the cost a little by using some of each nut instead of using all pine nuts.
• Pignoli – Pine Nuts. You can usually find these in the baking aisle with other nuts. They are fairly expensive. Almonds or walnuts are a good alternative and a little less costly.
• Fresh Garlic Cloves – Grating the garlic cloves helps it blend into the sauce more effectively than it would if you just throw it in the food processor with the other ingredients.
• Sweet Basil – We use 5 cups in this recipe so if you can grow your own, It’s less costly than trying to buy it in grocery stores.
• Kosher Salt and Ground Black Pepper – To taste.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil. A good flavorful olive oil is worth its weight in gold, and uncooked in this dish that flavor shines through. Do not substitute.
• Parmesan Reggiano. Don’t skimp on this. Grated parmesan in a bag has less quality and also has added powder to prevent caking. That powder can ruin a sauce very quickly.

How to Make Homemade Basil Pesto

Add ingredients to your food processor and process.

Place the walnuts, pignoli, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for 30 seconds.

Add the remaining ingredients and finish processing.

Add the fresh basil leaves, salt, and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed. Add the Parmesan and puree for a minute. 

Add the basil pesto sauce to cooked pasta and serve!

We love serving fresh basil pesto over pasta. It is a hearty meal that tastes fresh and vibrant and is so quick and easy to make.

If you start boiling water when you start making the pesto sauce, this meal will come together beautifully in the time it takes to boil the pasta.

Hostess Tips for the Best Fresh Basil Pesto Possible

The most important thing in making good pesto is to use good quality parmesan cheese. I freshly grated Parmesan Reggiano in a food processor. Putting parmesan in the food processor gives it a great texture. It has a larger grain, that you can really taste. Pecorino Romano is another hard cheese that can be used.

Optionally, you can add lemon zest and a a spritz of fresh lemon juice if you want a fresh citrusy flavor or it’s a great way to cut the herbaceous flavor that traditional pesto is known for.

If making more than one batch, I make them individually.

I have also used Thai Basil and it will work but the flavor is not like sweet basil. It’s sweet, spicy, and anise-like notes, with a hint of licorice. The taste is more robust and slightly peppery compared to sweet basil. If Thai basil is what you have in the garden, use 2/3 Thai basil and 1/3 spinach to temper the flavor a bit.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: The fresh basil plant or leaves don’t refrigerate or freeze well. If you’ve got some picked (on the stems) put them in a container of water at room temperature. The olive oil in this recipe preserves the sweet basil keeping it fresh and vibrant in the freezer.

How to Store Sweet Basil Pesto

Store extra pesto sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for one to two weeks. The extra-virgin olive oil will maintain its beautiful green color and fresh flavor.

Can I freeze Sweet Basil Pesto?

There’s nothing like the fresh flavor of pesto during the winter months. It freezes and keeps beautifully. Once thawed, it looks as vibrant and tastes just as good as the day you made it. I make big batches so I can put some in the freezer. Using 1-cup storage containers that are freezer-safe makes it perfect to serve as an appetizer or mixed into a favorite pasta recipe any time of year. You can also pour pesto into ice cube trays which makes it easy to pop them out when you need a smaller amount.

Some recipes have you drizzling a thin layer of olive oil over the top of the pesto before freezing it. I’ve never found that to be necessary.

What Else Can I Do with Pesto Sauce?

Besides adding this delicious sauce to pasta, it can also be added to garlic toast, served on a charcuterie board as a dip with our fresh Italian bread or Easy Flatbread, used as the sauce on our flat bread pizza, sandwiches, and paninis. You can even use it over grilled meat!

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

Originally released on September 9, 2014, this Sweet Basil Pesto recipe has undergone updates to enhance our readers’ experience, including simple details and new images. No changes were made to the actual recipe.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Don’t forget to pin it for later and follow me on Pinterest for more delicious recipes like this one!