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Proper Pesto
Proper Pesto
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Prep Time:
20 minutes
Total Time:
20 minutes
Try Chef John's handcrafted basil pesto for a burst of bold, balanced flavors using a mortar and pestle.
Ingredients:
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 0.25 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 large bunch fresh basil
  • 3 tablespoons pine nuts
  • 2 ounces finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  • 0.5 cup mild extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions:
  • Mash garlic with a pinch of kosher salt in a mortar and pestle until paste-like, about 1-2 minutes. Gradually add basil, crushing and pounding until a fairly fine paste forms, about 8 minutes (time may vary based on leaf size). Mix in pine nuts by pounding.
  • Grate a handful of cheese into a mortar and pound it into the sauce. Repeat with another handful of cheese, and continue adding cheese gradually until fully mixed, around 5 minutes.
  • Add the olive oil one tablespoon at a time, gently incorporating it into the sauce. Once all the olive oil is fully blended in, transfer the pesto to a bowl and finish with a final drizzle of olive oil on top.

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