Freeze It Basil Pesto Recipes

HOW TO MAKE AND FREEZE BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• To toast pine nuts, place on a baking sheet in an even layer and bake at 350 for 6-7 minutes until browned.
• In a large food processor, pulse together basil, parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice and zest.
• Slowly drizzle in the olive oil and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Place basil, garlic, nuts, and olive oil in food processor fitted with a metal blade.
• Process until fairly smooth, wiping down sides once or twice if needed.
• Add cheese, salt, and pepper and give it a quick whirl to mix.
• Use immediately or freeze in ice cube trays.
• Once frozen, pop them out and place into freezer zip-lock bags (date the bag w/sharpie).

FRESH BASIL PESTO - FREEZER DIRECTIONS

Steps:

• Put the basil, garlic, pine nuts, and salt in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Drizzle olive oil. Taste and add more salt if needed.
• If freezing: line ice cube trays with plastic wrap. Scoop pesto into trays using 1-2 tablespoons of pesto per "cube." Freeze. Put in ziplock after solid. To use: Thaw and add cheese.
• If using fresh: Add the cheese and process a few seconds until just incorporated.
• Enough pesto for a pound of pasta and recommended it tossed with linguine, capellini or meat or cheese tortellini.

FREEZE IT: BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Spread nuts evenly on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven until golden and fragrant, tossing once, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, bring 4 cups salted water to a boil; add basil, and submerge with a spoon. Immediately drain in a colander. Rinse with cold water until cool, then pat basil completely dry in paper towels.
• In a food processor, combine nuts, basil, and garlic; season generously with salt and pepper. Process until nuts are finely chopped. With machine running, pour oil in a steady stream through the feed tube; process until smooth. Use immediately, or freeze. To freeze, spoon pesto into an ice-cube tray (2 tablespoons per cube); cover with plastic wrap. Freeze overnight, then transfer cubes to a resealable plastic bag; keep up to 6 months. Defrost pesto at room temperature, about 20 minutes (or at 30-second intervals in the microwave). Mash with a fork before using in recipes.

PESTO FOR FREEZING

Steps:

• Put basil, oil, pine nuts, garlic and salt into a blender or food processor. Process until smooth. Makes 2 cups of sauce.
• Spoon sauce into ice cube tray. Put in a freezer bag and freeze.
• To use, take out as many cubes as desired and microwave or leave out at room temperature until thawed.
• When using the sauce, add about 1 tbsp of pecorino romano (more or less, depending on ice cube size and your taste) for each ice cube you use.