Basil-Walnut Pesto
Many freezer-friendly pesto recipes instruct you to add the cheese after thawing, but we found no noticeable flavor loss when folding it in before freezing. Once thawed, toss pesto with pasta or grains, spread on sandwiches, and use to season casseroles with summery basil flavor year-round.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Many freezer-friendly pesto recipes instruct you to add the cheese after thawing, but we found no noticeable flavor loss when folding it in before freezing. Once thawed, toss pesto with pasta or grains, spread on sandwiches, and use to season casseroles with summery basil flavor year-round.
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups walnut pieces
- 12 cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves (8 oz.)
- 8 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 Tbs. lemon juice
Preparation
1. Pulse walnuts, basil, and garlic in food processor or blender until nuts are finely crumbled and green.
2. With food processor motor running, add oil in steady stream, and pulse until combined. Add cheese and lemon juice, and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
3. Ladle pesto into 1/2 cup silicone ice cube molds. Press plastic wrap over surface of molds to seal out air. Freeze 4 hours, or overnight, then transfer to freezer bag for long-term storage.
4. To defrost: place pesto cube in bowl, cover bowl with plastic wrap to seal out air, and let melt at room temperature 10 minutes.
Nutrition Information
- Calories 140
- Carbohydrate Content 2 g
- Cholesterol Content 3 mg
- Fat Content 14 g
- Fiber Content 0.5 g
- Protein Content 3 g
- Saturated Fat Content 2 g
- Sodium Content 52 mg
- Sugar Content 0.5 g