Fresh Basil Pesto – The Taste of Summer in a Jar! ☀️🌿
If you love the bright, fresh flavours of the Mediterranean, there’s one sauce that never fails to deliver — homemade basil pesto.
It’s the perfect summer essential. Why? Because right now, basil is at its absolute best — those vibrant green leaves bursting with aroma and flavour. And when you combine it with silky olive oil, punchy garlic, crunchy pine nuts, and good quality Parmesan… it’s summer in a jar.
And here’s the thing — when you use top-quality Parmesan, you barely need extra salt. A proper Parmesan brings that natural salty edge that balances the pesto perfectly. It’s a simple reminder that seasonal ingredients, at their peak, make ALL the difference. You taste it in every spoonful.
Want to Mix Things Up?
If you fancy experimenting, try swapping out the basil for peppery rocket or watercress. It gives your pesto a little extra attitude — perfect drizzled over grilled veg or stirred through pasta on a sunny day.
Classic Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe:
80g fresh basil leaves (buy them while they’re at their freshest!)
3 cloves of garlic
40g pine nuts
125g extra virgin olive oil
60g Parmesan cheese (invest in good quality, you’ll taste the difference)
Ground black pepper
Salt to taste (go easy if your Parmesan is aged and salty)
Extra olive oil to top and preserve
Simply blitz it all together until smooth, adjust the seasoning, and store it with a drizzle of olive oil on top to keep it fresh.
Why Make Your Own?
Shop-bought pesto can never compete with the taste of freshly blitzed herbs and that gorgeous Parmesan saltiness. Plus, making it at home lets you control the quality — peak seasonal basil, beautiful olive oil, and the kind of cheese that makes you smile.
If this recipe’s got you dreaming of sunshine and big bowls of pasta, let me know! Like this post and drop a comment below — what’s your favourite summer sauce or twist on classic pesto?👇
And don’t forget, by following this account, you could WIN a handwritten recipe book filled with seasonal, honest, flavour-packed dishes — coming soon!
How do you like yours ?
