Pesto Sauce

Cook Smart for a Healthy Heart, Reader's Digest CanadaCook Smart for a Healthy Heart, Reader's Digest Canada

Your sauce can make or break your pasta dish. A little homemade pesto sauce goes a long way. Toss this sauce into piping hot pasta just before eating.

Number of servings : 4 (makes â…” cups)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: Ready in under 30 minutes

Type of meal : | Main Courses | Main Courses

Special diet :

Ingredients

2 garlic cloves, peeled
¼ cup pine nuts
â…“ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 medium bunch fresh basil
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions

  1. Place the garlic in a food processor or blender. Add the pine nuts and Parmesan cheese, and process until the ingredients are finely chopped and thoroughly combined.
  2. Add the basil, including all the soft stalks. Process until the basil is chopped and the mixture begins to clump together.
  3. Add the olive oil and process until combined. The sauce should have a fine, slightly grainy texture.
  4. Serve with pasta.

Cook’s Tip: Store any leftover pesto in a screwtop jar in the refrigerator (cover the surface of the pesto with a little extra olive oil).

Nutritional information: