Basil Pesto Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tightly packed cup of fresh basil leaves.
• 1 tightly packed cup of fresh parsley (optional)
• 1 or 2 Garlic cloves.
• 1/3 cup pine nuts
• ½ cup olive oil.
• ½ cup of parmesan cheese (or less according to taste).
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Method

Put all ingredients into a blender and blend well. This pesto will keep for several weeks in the fridge and will freeze well. Toss a small amount through hot pasta, spread on bruschetta with Italian cheese and chopped tomato, stir through soup like minestrone etc.

Fun facts about Basil

1. It was found in mummies in Egypt because the ancient Egyptian’s used it for embalming.
2. It is native to India.
3. Basil is in the same family as mint, rosemary, lavender and oregano.
4. There are only 15 calories in every 100grams.
5. It has excellent digestive and ant inflammatory properties.