Pesto (Master Recipe)

Recipe by Paul Young <info@cooking-with-paul.com>

(makes about 2 cups)

Italian flavor principle:

• olive oil
• garlic
• basil

Ingredients:

• 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 6 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons lightly toasted pine nuts and/or untoasted walnuts
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt to taste
• 2 cups tightly packed, fresh basil leaves

Procedure:

1. Add olive oil, garlic, pine nuts to blender; blend until smooth (optional: saute garlic briefly in olive before blending)
2. Add Parmesan cheese and salt, blend until smooth
3. Add basil leaves, blend until smooth (optional: blanch basil before blending, or drop a couple of ice cubes into the blender while blending)
4. Store refrigerated in a glass jar (tip: top with extra olive oil to seal the pesto)