• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Wellness Mama script logo

Wellness Mama®

Simple Answers for Healthier Families

  • About
  • Favorites
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Health
  • Natural Home
  • Motherhood
  • Mindset
  • Natural Remedies
  • Beauty
  • Organization
  • Travel
  • Reviews
  • Recipes
  • Condiment Recipes
  • Recipes

Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe

Katie WellsJul 18, 2019Updated: Oct 7, 2019
Reading Time: 2 min

This post contains affiliate links.
Click here to read my affiliate policy.

Jump to Recipe
Wellness Mama » Blog » Recipes » Condiment Recipes » Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe

One of the hardest adjustments for me when adapting to our grain-free lifestyle was finding substitutes for the classic foods my Italian husband loves. Pasta was, of course, at the top of his list, so after much trial and error, I was finally able to make some healthy alternatives that taste even better.

Basil Pesto From Scratch

While the pesto available in stores is not terrible, it is hard to find one that doesn’t contain hydrogenated oils or grain fillers. Thankfully, basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow. I don’t have a green thumb, but even I can’t seem to kill it. In fact, one summer, we had three foot tall basil plants take over the garden.

We made big batches of this when the basil was ready for harvest and froze it to use all year! I found that I actually prefer this, since the pesto was ready to go whenever we needed it.

Best of all, basil has a whole list of uses as a natural remedy in tonics, teas, and more. I tie any unused basil by the stems in bunches and hang upside to dry for future use. (Placing the basil in a paper bag recommended to catch any crumbling leaves.)

Green ebook cover with spices, bears, and veggies on a table

Meal Prep!

Busy? Save Time + Eat More Protein

With my High-Protein (Family-Friendly) Bulk Meal Prep Guide. This saves me so much time each week and keeps my family fueled! Download it free here:

New to Pesto?

Pesto is essentially just a puree of fresh basil, nuts, olive oil, and garlic. It is a lovely green color and packs quite a punch of flavor. Pesto can be used on spaghetti squash “pasta”, on top of meatloaf, in stir-frys or casseroles for flavor, or with any Italian-themed dish. It is also delicious on omelets, biscuits, or grain-free bread.

And if you really want a pasta dish, this basil pesto is great with Paleo Cupboard grain-free pasta noodles!

Basil Pesto Recipe

Katie Wells
Fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil... what could be better?
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Total Time 5 mins
Course Condiment
Cuisine Italian
Servings 1 cup
Calories 90 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 packed cups fresh basil
  • ½ cup raw almonds
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ¼ cup olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Put basil, almonds, and garlic in a blender.
  • Turn the blender on and slowly add the oil until the pesto is the desired consistency.
  • Use right away, store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, or freeze for up to 9 months.

Notes

To freeze pesto, I like to put a couple tablespoons in each compartment of an ice cube tray. When they are frozen I dump them in a larger container with a lid and store in the freezer. This method makes it easy to just grab the needed amount. 
The Vitamix with tamper makes this job a snap, but any blender should work!

Nutrition

Serving: 2TBSPCalories: 90kcalCarbohydrates: 1.6gProtein: 1.4gFat: 9.3gSaturated Fat: 1.1gFiber: 0.8gSugar: 0.3g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!

Other Homemade Condiment Recipes:

  • Mayonnaise
  • Egg Free Mayo with Avocado
  • Italian Dressing Recipe
  • Ranch Dressing Recipe
  • Raspberry Vinaigrette
  • Asian Vinaigrette
  • Honey Mustard Sauce and Dressing
  • Lactofermented Salsa
  • Caesar Dressing
  • Cilantro Pesto

How do you like basil pesto? Share below!

Category: Condiment Recipes, Recipes

Share this article

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn
Print / PDF / Email

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

  • All Posts

You may also enjoy these posts…

cilantro pesto recipe

Cilantro Pesto Recipe (With Pumpkin Seeds!)

Tomato & Basil Caprese Omelet Recipe

Spring Salad Recipes

6 Fresh Spring Salad Recipes

Spaghetti squash pesto chicken recipe

Pesto Chicken with Spaghetti Squash

Peach Cucumber Salad Recipe with Basil Vinaigrette

chicken salad with sun-dried tomatoes

Pesto Chicken Salad With Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Reader Interactions

Discussion (10 Comments)

  1. Ken Price

    May 31, 2022 at 12:25 PM

    5 stars
    Hello Katie. I read in the recipe intro about your grain-free diet and missing your pasta. Surely by now you must have tried some of the grain-free pastas made from brown rice? Trader Joe’s has one that we have been enjoying for years. BUT – then – one day on the car radio we were listening to a podcast from Bon Appetit, and they did a piece on a new grain-free pasta brand: Jovial. Their praise for the product was so effusive that we went out and bought some. It was a revelation. Better then ANY pasta we’ve ever bought for home use, including premium Italian brands made from semolina wheat. Try it, you won’t be sorry. The company’s back story is also very interesting: you can hear it on Guy Raz’ podcast, “How I Built This” on NPR. https://www.npr.org/series/490248027/how-i-built-this Just search for the “Jovial” episode. Note: I have no connection to the company – I’m just a big fan, along with my gluten-free wife.

    Reply
  2. Christine Schindler

    August 25, 2016 at 10:12 PM

    Store in an air tight container for up to 2 weeks in the fridge and ” ” months in the fridge. You left out the 9.

    Reply
  3. amy

    January 21, 2016 at 5:28 AM

    Just a tip. If you use wild garlic mustard rather than basil, the pesto will not brown. Bonus…the root of the wild garlic mustard plant is a wild horseradish.

    Reply
    • Hilda M Smylie.

      July 19, 2016 at 12:55 PM

      It also doesn’t brown when topped with olive oil and it will stay in the refrigerator for several months. Just used some from last year for bruschetta.Spread the pesto on baguette rounds, top with tomato bruschetta and Feta cheese. Homemade bruschetta was made with chopped tomatoes, garlic, chopped basil and olive oil. Served at a coctail party and got lots of compliments.

      Reply
  4. katie

    April 14, 2015 at 6:07 PM

    Is it two cups of packed basil or loose? Just leaves or stem as well?

    Reply
  5. Lainy Elena Torres

    July 20, 2013 at 7:41 AM

    Why don’t you use pinenuts, just curious?

    Reply
  6. Marie

    February 11, 2013 at 5:13 PM

    Don’t forget potato gnocchi! The first time I had pesto, it was served with gnocchi in a little restaurant in Liguria. That first bite began a life long obsession.

    Reply
  7. Kelly

    December 25, 2012 at 10:11 PM

    This sounds amazing! What kind of containers do you freeze it in?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      December 26, 2012 at 5:34 PM

      I actually like freezing in ice cube trays and then dumping out into bags once frozen to keep in individual size portions..

      Reply

Join the Conversation... Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Please read the comment policy.

Recipe Rating




The information on this website has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. By accessing or using this website, you agree to abide by the Terms of Service, Full Disclaimer, Privacy Policy, Affiliate Disclosure, and Comment Policy. Content may not be reproduced in any form. Ads provided by CafeMedia Family & Parenting Network. Displayed ads do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by Wellness Mama.


Content

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Favorites
  • Wellnesse

Support

  • Newsletter
  • Podcast Application
  • Medical Review Board
  • My Books
  • Sitemap
  • Contact

Policies

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Full Disclaimer
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Promo Guidelines
  • Comment Policy

Join the
Wellness Mama Tribe!


Copyright © 2023 · Wellness Mama® · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding