How to make pesto

Preparation time: less than 30 mins
Cooking time: less than 10 mins
Serves 4
Vegetarian



Ingredients
- 125g/4½oz pine nuts
- 125g/4½oz parmesan cheese, cut into small chunks
- 1 large bunch fresh basil leaves
- 1 clove garlic, crushed with the flat side of a knife
- 200ml/7fl oz extra virgin olive oil
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- squeeze lemon juice


Method
1. Heat a dry frying pan over a medium heat. Add the pine nuts and toast them for a few minutes until browned and fragrant.
2. Place the parmesan chunks in a food processor and add the basil leaves, garlic, toasted pine nuts and olive oil. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
3. Blend for a few seconds until it begins to come together and is smooth.
4. Taste the pesto for seasoning, and add a squeeze of lemon juice if you like.
5. If not using straight away, you can store the pesto in a jar and will keep for a week in the fridge. Or you can put it into ice-cube trays and freeze.

Top recipe tip

For a change, try using pecorino cheese instead of parmesan, it has a lovely citrus flavour which works well in the pesto. Or reserve 25g/1oz of the toasted pine nuts and stir them through at the end to give the pesto more texture. There are various types of pesto, including walnut, rocket, spinach and many more.