Pesto sauce

description:

A simple basil pesto sauce.

ingredients:

1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
3 medium cloves garlic, unpeeled
2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
2 Tbsp fresh parsley leaves (optional)
7 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese

instructions:

1) Toast the pine nuts in a small skillet, stirring frequently, until just golden and fragrant, 7 minutes. Remove from pan.

2) Wipe our any oils from the nuts and add the unpeeled garlic to the pan and toast. Be sure to turn the garlic frequently to avoid burning. The garlic should be fragrant and darkened, 7 minutes. Remove and the garlic cool. Peel and rough chop the garlic.

3) Place the basil, parsley (if used), in a gallon-size ziplock bag. Use a rolling pin to bruise the leaves which will release its oils.

4) Process the nuts, garlic, herbs, cheese, oil, and 1/2 tsp salt in a food processor until smooth, stopping as necessary to scrape down the sides of the bowl, about 1 minute.

source:

Cooks Illustrated