Time to Make the Pesto!

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Our basil this year was the best ever! It was so nice to have it available whenever I needed it this summer, but now that the nights are getting cooler I thought it was time to cut it down and make some pesto before it starts to shrivel up because that would be just too sad!

UPDATE!
Since I wrote this post back in 201o I thought it would be nice to do an update on my beloved basil, it is now 2020, ten years later and I’m still going strong with my love for all things basil!

basil plants
My husband is still the gardener and he’s the one that grows it for me every year. We use to grow it in the ground but now we grow it in pots and the quality and taste seems even better!
picking basil
I make pesto many times during the season, I also freeze it, recently I bought some cubed silicone ice cube trays which I fill with my finished pesto, when totally frozen I then pop the cubes out and stick them into a container and tuck it back into the freezer. I can’t wait to defrost some to use in the dead of winter!
pesto ice tray

I personally do not like when pesto starts to turn brown, but years ago I found that just by blanching the leaves into boiling water for less than a minute and then submerging them quickly into ice water keeps their vibrant green color.

It’s been said that you can’t freeze pesto with the cheese in it, I’ve done it both ways and I see no difference, so I freeze mine completed with the cheese.

prepping pesto

So after picking the leaves off the branches I wash them first then get a pot of water boiling. When the water is boiling blanch the leaves for less than a minute, then into ice water which you will then squeeze dry.

An excellent tip I got years ago from a fellow blogger was to squeeze the water from spinach using a potato ricer and so I thought why not squeeze the water out of the blanched basil the same way using a potato ricer, and let me tell you it works like a charm!

When I’ve purchased store bought pesto’s in the past I find them way too garlicky or just too oily for my taste, but when you make your own you can add or subtract any of the amounts that you put into it. My advice is keep tasting it as you go along mixing it to get the right balance for you.

processor pesto

I stopped using pine nuts years ago, they’re just too expensive and then there was that whole “pine mouth” thing going around where badly produced pine nuts if eaten would take away your sense of taste and I didn’t want that to happen, so toasted walnuts it is, and you know what we love the flavor!

pesto ingredients
Good cheese like Parmigiano Reggiano,or even Pecorino Romano I have used, quality olive oil, fresh garlic and toasted nuts is all you need to make a fabulous basil pesto.

Delicious folded into warm pasta, so much flavor! Great with meats, salads, veggies, seafood and sauces, basil pesto is so versatile!

pesto recipe

Remember to keep tasting it, you might want to add more cheese, oil, salt, garlic or nuts whatever suits your own taste buds

ANOTHER TIP:

If you have an over abundance of basil leaves like I do you might want to try Lidia’s way of preserving them.

“Pluck the whole leaves and set them in a small paper cup, fill with water until the herb is submerged, then freeze. When frozen solid, pop the block of ice with the embedded herbs out of the paper cup and into a ziplock bag. The herbs, once the ice melts will be fresh and ready to use.”
 I hope you will give this a try it was so simple to do and you can pack quite a few leaves into the paper cups, another way to preserve your beautiful basil bounty!

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Comments

  1. These are all great tips!! Can’t wait to get out there and pick – pick-pick-!

  2. The easiest way to freeze basil….. Simply stuff them into a zipper Baggie, push the air out, and freeze. When you want to use them, take the frozen leaves, slice and dice and put them into anything. Mix into mayonnaise for a great basil flavor for sandwiches, use in pesto, or salads or use in any way you would use fresh basil. It keeps the green color and wonderful fragrance of when it was fresh. The only thing that doesn’t work, is if you want to use the leaves as a decoration. But when you open a frozen Baggie of basil, you will get that fresh and wonderful aroma of sweet basil!

  3. Hey there. This is my first year growing basil, or any herbs for that matter, so I’m so glad I found your site and this great way to freeze it when that time comes. I also can’t wait to try some of your recipes as I recently married into an Italian family and need the recipes.
    Teresa

  4. I’m a lazy cook and will place my pesto in a freezer bag, flatten it a little and freeze it. When I need pesto for my italian dressing, I just break a piece off. Oh so easy!!!

  5. Just getting a chance to browse through your all your lovely recipes here. Somebody might have mentioned it already or you know, but to I freeze my fresh pesto on cookie trays in 2-3 tb glops (how do you like that for technical) then pop them into small freezer bags and use as needed through out the winter. I love the idea of freezing the fresh basil in water! I will have to give that a go. Your basil harvest looked amazing!

  6. Went to a farm with the kids on a field trip and got to cut our own basil.
    The pesto turned out beautifully, and I can’t wait to make the pasta dish with it tonight!

  7. So, so very jealous! The weather out here makes growing basil somewhat difficult. Your plants are so lovely and full!

  8. I can only smile seeing that big patch of basil, Marie. What a glorious herb that is the essence of summer. I am going to try Lidia’s tip for freezing the fresh leaves. And I wish I had a bowl of your pasta right now – deliziosa!

  9. what a perfect idea. i’m going to try this method with my cilantro. thanks for the post! 🙂

  10. What a great way to try to preserve the basil. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to keep my fresh basil after I harvest it so I can keep using it year-round.

  11. What a brilliant idea and how lucky you are to have an abundance of basil. Your families food will be tasting fresh like summer all year round.

  12. Great way of preserving. Thanks for sharing.

  13. I’m jealous of your bounty. What’s your secret? I can’t grow a good batch of basil to save my life.

    I like the tip on freezing the basil. I’m curious how it turns out/tastes when you melt the cube.

  14. Holy Cow, Marie! I can’t believe your basil. Gorgeous. And I like the tips about freezing basil. Very interesting. I’ll have to try.

    As for the pine nuts – I noticed at our local grocery, they quadrupled in price. That is because they switched to real Mediterranean Pine Nuts, which are much more expensive. The ones from China are very cheap and what most stores carry.

  15. I do both too. As for the whole pine nut issue, we have been known to (gasp) use almonds as well 😉

  16. Do you ever find – your pesto turning dark when mixed with the hot pasta? Or is it just me…

  17. ohhh…it’s look so good!
    It’s telling you an italian girl!
    I made it today…spread on toasted bread…mmm…very goood!

    Have a nice day!
    Elisabetta

  18. Try using almonds instead of pine nuts, as well! I add a bit of parsley to help my pesto keep it’s bright green color.

  19. You basil runneth over. I never heard of blanching and then an ice bath. Is this only for making pesto or is it recommended for keeping the herb whole and fresh too? The freezing tip is also interesting. I remember years ago filling ice cube trays with pesto (w/o cheese) for future use. I add red pepper flakes and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to mine — and, yes, I too long ago gave up on pignolis. I use walnuts, hazelnuts or almonds, whichever I have.

  20. I am afraid to come back from vacation and see the state of my 3 basil plants.
    Looks like pesto is my future!
    Kisses from Paris!

  21. I am afraid to come home from vacation and see the size of my 3 huge basil plants.
    Looks like this is in my future!
    Kisses from Paris!

  22. Nothing tastes like summer to me quite like pesto. I really should start harvesting my basil and making more pesto to freeze before the season is out as well.

    I have to use pine nuts in mine though. I’m allergic to walnuts! 🙁

  23. What gorgeous pesto you created with your basil. I must admit I am jealous, as ours didn’t do so well this year. Also, great tip about freezing the basil. I imagine this would work with other herbs as well? Thanks!

  24. Pesto is far and above my favorite thing to stock away for winter! Just opening it up makes me feel like it’s summer again!

  25. I’m so glad you posted Lidia’s tips on freezing the basil. Very clever. I have also heard to freeze the pesto before you add the parmesan. I have tried both ways, and I really don’t think there is much difference.

  26. I made a lot of pesto and froze it before I went away on vacation as I was afraid my basil would bolt to seed while I was gone. By cutting off only the tops of the plants they actually did quite well and when I came home I had a lot of fresh growth of bright green leaves to use, so I may do the same thing next year even if I don’t go away.

  27. I also freeze pesto, but I put it in ice cube trays, which are a perfect size for putting in a sauce. I also make it with and without cheese and put them in a glass jar topped with olive oil. The oil protects it from oxidizing.

    Regards,
    Patricia

  28. I also freeze my basil in ice cube trays for smaller portions so that I can just take a cube out to use in a sauce, just about the right size and I don’t waste any of it. But when I make pesto, I made it without some without cheese and some with and put it in a glass jar topped with oil. By topping it with oil it doesn’t oxidize.

  29. Wow! What an amazing crop of basil! I think it’s one of the most beautiful plants in my garden and I love the idea for freezing it in the paper cups. I will definitely give that one a try! Thanks!

  30. Good heavens, Marie, you have a basil hedge in your yard! Thanks for the great tip about blanching the leaves and freezing them in little cups. Very clever.
    I couldn’t bring myself to pay $26 for a bag of pinenuts at Costco so will be using walnuts too.

  31. Yes, it IS time to make the pesto. I had such a huge basil crop last year that I still have enough pesto left in my freezer to get me through another winter. So this year I’m experimenting. A friend of mine just plucks the basil and gently packs it into freezer bags, then pushes all the air out so the bag is flat and freezes it. Hers turns out beautifully, so I’m trying it this year!

  32. On Sunday, I made pesto for the year – about sixteen containers worth and then did the ice cube thing. It was sad – harvesting the pesto – nodding an acknowledgement that summer was over but sweet to think of the summer treat this coming winter.

  33. Marie – I’ve been freezing my pesto as you do, sometimes blanching in water, sometimes not. Even with the blanching, it turns dark on me and I can’t figure out why. In Italy you can buy it in supermarkets by the spoonful at the deli counters, and it always stays a bright green. I wonder if they put ascorbic acid in it or something else to keep it looking so fresh and appealing. Re: freezing leaves like Lidia, last year I did that and lost it in the freezer mess. I found it again this summer when I didn’t need it any longer. I have to organize a little better.

  34. My fave.

    I’m lucky enough to have a year-round source of very good basil, and so I make it a lot.

    And don’t sweat the walnuts. Half the time that’s what I use, just not toasted.

  35. I just found my perfect solution on your site. I don’t have an overflow of basil this year so I don’t think i’ll make pesto but I can definitely freeze it before the cold weather does. I’m going to freeze mine in paper cups like you and Lidia. Thanks for the tip!

  36. Lofe all of these tips. My basil is done for this year sad to say, but maybe I will still hit the motherload!!

  37. I cannot tell you how happy I am that I have found your blog! I love love love italian and the recipes on this blog are fantastic. Pesto would have to be in my top 5 favourite pasta dishes. Thankyou!!

  38. So, I’m looking at my modest container of basil. We did okay, but nothing Basil-zilla you have growing! I hear you on the pine nuts. I ran out of them, from Costco. As soon as I spot those puppies, I’m buying TWO bags! I never thought to blanch the basil before making pesto. Great tip!

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