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Creamy Pesto Sauce Recipe Easy Homemade Rich Flavor in 5 Minutes

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A rich and velvety creamy pesto sauce that blends fresh basil with cream for a smooth, indulgent twist on classic pesto. Ready in under 5 minutes, perfect for pasta, grilled meats, or as a dip.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
  • 2 medium garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts (or walnuts)
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, a pinch
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

  1. Toast your pine nuts: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and cook, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant—about 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside to cool.
  2. Rinse basil leaves and pat dry completely. Peel and roughly chop garlic cloves.
  3. In a food processor, add basil leaves, garlic, and toasted pine nuts. Pulse a few times until coarsely chopped and fragrant, about 10-15 seconds.
  4. Add grated Parmesan cheese and pulse a few more times to incorporate.
  5. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until the mixture starts to come together smoothly.
  6. Add heavy cream and pulse just until combined, being careful not to overblend.
  7. Season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and lemon juice if using. Pulse briefly to mix.
  8. Check consistency: if too thick, add a teaspoon of cream or olive oil and pulse again; if too thin, add more Parmesan or basil and blend briefly.
  9. Serve immediately over pasta or your favorite dish, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

Toast pine nuts lightly to unlock flavor. Dry basil leaves thoroughly to avoid watery sauce. Pulse blending to maintain texture and prevent bitterness. Add cream last to avoid separation. Store in airtight container refrigerated up to 3 days. Reheat gently to prevent curdling.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy pesto sauce, homemade pesto, basil sauce, easy pesto recipe, quick sauce, creamy basil sauce, pesto with cream

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