Pesto Genovese Recipe (Authentic Italian Basil Pesto)

Name: Pesto Genovese Recipe (Authentic Italian Basil Pesto)
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 50 g fresh basil leaves (- (about 60–65 small leaves), preferably Genovese basil DOP); 120 ml extra virgin olive oil (- ½ cup, preferably a mild Ligurian extra virgin olive oil); 70 g Parmigiano Reggiano (- ¾ cup, finely grated); 30 g Pecorino Fiore Sardo (- about ⅓ cup, finely grated); 1 or 2 cloves of garlic (- depending on size and taste); 15 g pine nuts (- 2 tablespoons); 4-5 grains coarse salt; ice (- to quickly chill the basil leaves before making the pesto)

Instructions

Prep:15min

Pesto Genovese is the authentic Italian basil pesto from Liguria, made with a few simple but carefully selected ingredients: Genovese basil DOP, extra virgin olive oil, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Fiore Sardo, pine nuts, garlic, and salt.This traditional uncooked sauce, also known as Pesto alla Genovese, is one of the most famous recipes of Ligurian cuisine and one of the most loved Italian sauces in the world. Its fresh, fragrant flavor comes from the quality of the ingredients and from the way they are combined, traditionally using a marble mortar and wooden pestle.

Updated at: Sat, 11 Jul 2026 22:12:49 GMT