“Homemade basil pesto doesn’t last very long in our home due to its versatility, dynamite flavour and the ease of which it is made. Spend two extra minutes toasting the pine kernels and lightly frying the rawness out of the garlic and you will be good to go. Fresh pesto is superior to anything you will buy in the store – nothing beats it. It is fresher in flavour, and more vibrant in colour. This recipe makes a small tub (approximately 175g / 6oz), or 4 servings as calculated.” – Monya
Fats of Life® is a keto and low carb recipe blog that I love to run as a hobby in my spare time. I am also the author of the best-selling Keto Kitchen Series of cookbooks. This includes my debut best-seller Keto Kitchen (2020). The fun and exciting Lazy Keto Kitchen (2021). And, the clever and inspiring Budget Keto Kitchen (2022). My 4th cookbook, Quick Keto Kitchen (2023) is as fantastic as the first three, and packed with spectacular, easy creations!
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More on Homemade Basil Pesto…
Basil, scientifically known as Ocimum basilicum, is a popular herb in many cuisines. It is also well-known for its potential health benefits. While it’s primarily used for its flavourful qualities in cooking, it contains various compounds that may offer health advantages.
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Basil contains a variety of antioxidants, including flavonoids and polyphenols. These help protect cells from oxidative stress and damage caused by free radicals. Antioxidants can play a role in reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
Basil contains essential oils like eugenol, which have anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds may help reduce inflammation in the body, potentially providing relief from conditions like arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Basil is a source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C. It also contains antimicrobial properties that may help fight infections. The compounds found in basil, including flavonoids and phytochemicals, may have anti-cancer properties. While more research is needed, some studies have shown that basil extracts may inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
It is important to note that to maintain ketosis, it’s essential to track carbohydrate intake and ensure it aligns with your daily macro goals. Consulting with a healthcare professional is advised before making significant dietary changes. Scroll to the bottom to see the full macros and allergens for this Homemade Basil Pesto, as well as all the Sauces & Condiments on Fats of Life®.
Homemade Basil Pesto
Per serving
Ingredients
- 70 g (2.5 oz) olive oil
- 30 g (1 oz) pine kernels
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
- 40 g (1.4 oz) basil leaves
- 30 g (1.1 oz) Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- squeeze fresh lemon
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Have all your ingredients prepped and ready.
- Take one tablespoon from the measured olive oil and add to a pan along with the pine nuts and roughly chopped garlic. Cook over a moderate heat for a minute or two until the pine nuts and garlic turn golden. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Place the basil leaves, grated Parmesan and all the remaining olive oil to a small food processor. Tip in the roasted pine nuts and garlic, as well as the oil it was fried in. Add a generous squeeze of lemon.
- Blitz until smooth, stopping halfway to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Season with salt and black pepper.
- Store in the fridge for no longer than 3-4 days. There are plenty of recipes on this site that uses this pesto. Use the search bar to run a search on "pesto".
The pesto can be used immediately, or it can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. If you are a vegetarian or avoiding dairy, you can replace the Parmesan with a tablespoon of Nutritional Yeast Flakes. * A new-and-improved version of this delicious recipe features in my cookbook KETO KITCHEN.
My name is Monya Kilian Palmer. If you loved this recipe, please follow and tag me @mkilianpalmer on Instagram so we can all see your lovely creations!
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The links above will take you to Amazon UK. For USA and other countries, see the global Amazon links here: Keto Kitchen ; Lazy Keto Kitchen ; Budget Keto Kitchen ; Quick Keto Kitchen.
Nutritional Information per servingCalories             246Kcal / 1029kJ
Fat                 25g
Carbohydrates       1.2g
Protein              4.4g
Allergens
Milk
See all the Sauces & Condiments on Fats of Life:
Disclaimer: The nutritional analysis, macro and allergen breakdown of the recipes on this site have been manually and carefully calculated using the cloud-based software NUTRITICS®. NUTRITICS® is fully approved by the relevant Trading Standards organizations and is EU and FDA-compliant. The macro calculations are provided as a courtesy to you based on the author's weighing of ingredients when creating the dishes. If Erythritol (a sugar polyol) has been used in any of the recipes, it has already been manually excluded from the final carbohydrate count. The author is a chef - not a medical professional - and this website has been designed to provide you with recipe ideas to suit the low carb lifestyle you have discussed with your GP.
4 Comments
I made this today to go with the pesto stuffed chicken and it was soooooo lovely. We have quite a bit left over and have my meals planned for the week so won’t use it. Can it be frozen?
To be honest, I wouldn’t freeze it. Maybe stir it through konjac noodles as a yummy ‘pasta’ sauce?
Drop me a line if you have any questions or comments about this recipe. I will do my best to reply as soon as possible! Monya xxx
Will look that one up. Thank you for such a speedy response.