How to Make and Freeze Basil Pesto

Basil pesto is easy to make and freeze, preserving the fresh flavors of summer. Healthy and versatile – pesto is perfect brushed on grilled meats, tossed with steamed veggies, or stirred into soup.

Putting pesto on pasta


I love preparing homemade basil pesto in bulk during the summer. I can prepare the sauce in just minutes, and it’s also extremely versatile and ideal for freezing. When you’re in need of a quick lunch or dinner, you can take a cube of frozen pesto and have a sauced up pasta in minutes! It’s actually super simple, and I’ll show you how easy it is to make and freeze your own basil pesto.

Ingredients

  • Fresh basil: Whether from your own yard or the store or farmer’s market, it needs to be fresh!
  • Parmesan: Nutty and salty, it adds texture and flavor to the sauce.
  • Pine nuts: Instead of using raw pine nuts, I like to toast them to add a deep, rich flavor.
  • Garlic: Earthy, nutty, and somewhat spicy, it adds rich flavor to the pesto.
  • Lemon juice and zest: Brightens up the flavor while adding an acidic balance to the olive oil, cheese, and nuts.
  • Olive oil: Helps to evenly distrubute the ingredients as they blend and gives the pesto its spreadable consistency.

how to Make and Freeze Basil Pesto

Toasted pine nuts

Start by toasting your pine nuts by tossing them in the oven at 350 for about 6 or 6 minutes, until nice and brown.

Drying basil

While the pine nuts are toasting, you can wash and dry your fresh basil.

Adding basil leaves to food proccessor

Then pick the basil leaves off of the stems and add to a food processor.

Adding parmesan cheese to food processor

Followed by the grated parmesan cheese.

Adding lemon zest to pesto

Then add your garlic cloves and fresh lemon zest.

Adding pine nuts to pesto

Next add your toasted pine nuts.

Adding salt to pesto

Finish with some salt and pepper to taste, before turning on your food processor.

adding olive oil to pesto

As your pesto blends, slowly add the olive oil until ilt arrive at the desired consistency.

Adding lemon juice to pesto

Finish off with the fresh lemon juice, and you are ready to serve over some pasta, brushed onto grilled meat, or whatever you can think of!

How to make and freeze basil pesto.

However if you aren’t using it all for your dish, take a clean ice cub tray and fill with the pesto. Cover (plastic wrap will work if your trays don’t come with lids), and place in the freezer. You’ll now have basil pesto at the ready for months going forward!

Easy Substitutions

  • Basil : spinach, parsley, arugula or cilantro
  • Parmesan : pecorino, romano, or Grana Padano cheese
  • Pine nuts : walnuts, pistachios, or cashews

Frequently Asked Questions:

How long can you keep homemade pesto for?

Pesto keeps for 5-7 days in the refrigerator.

How long does frozen pesto keep for?

3 Months

Does olive oil have to be used to make pesto?

Olive oil prevents oxidation and slows the pesto from turning brown. I’ve never tried not using olive oil.

How to make and freeze basil pesto on pasta.

Recipes with Pesto

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Liz eating fresh basil pesto.

Eat it now, or eat it later, now that you know how to make and freeze basil pesto, you’ll start using it all the time.

Your fork is waiting.

Putting pesto on pasta

How To Make And Freeze Basil Pesto

Liz DellaCroce
Lemon juice and zest adds brightness and freshness to this traditional basil pesto recipe. Perfect for freezing and using later in pastas, soups, marinades and more.
4.28 stars average
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Sauce
Cuisine Italian
Servings 24
Calories 119 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 4 cups fresh basil
  • 1 cup grated parmesan
  • ½ cup pine nuts toasted
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 lemon juice and zest of
  • 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoonsCalories: 119kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 2gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 64mgPotassium: 42mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 245IUVitamin C: 3.2mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 0.3mg
Keyword how to make and freeze pesto
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87 thoughts on “How to Make and Freeze Basil Pesto”

  1. Loved the recipe tasted great i put walnuts in mine. I want to ship some from Ma to Florida overnite should i send frozen or just as it was made

  2. Hi Liz, I saw where one of your commenters asked if you have to use olive oil in your pesto recipe. I have made it using avocado oil and it’s a great substitute. I personally missed the flavor of the olive oil, but for those who don’t like olive oil, I think they will like the avocado oil version. I have also used macadamia nuts and they were also a great substitute for the pine nuts.

  3. You gave purpose to all the basil growing in the tomato planter. First time ever making pesto and your recipe (substituted roasted cashews for pine nuts) è delizioso. Many thanks!

  4. This was my first time making basil pesto, and it was great! I did save pine nuts for garnish, and think I will also garnish with a touch of lemon zest when I have a fresh lemon in the fridge. Basil plant going crazy, another batch of leaves washed and spun to be processed tomorrow. Thank you for the recipe.

  5. Eileen Pedersen

    Is there any way you could be more specific on the lemon juice and zest, they can vary in size so much? Right now I have a huge lemon, so I’m sure I don’t want to use the whole thing, but I’m not sure how much is the right amount…

  6. I use almonds & pre-grind them in a coffee bean grinder.
    I pour the pesto into ziplock freezer bags, lay them flat on a cookie sheet to freeze, then break off what I need &?reseal. Great space saver for the freezer & has lasted me all year.

  7. Delicious recipe but I went a little lighter on the lemon juice. I don’t have ice trays.. can I put it in mini muffin tin?

  8. Hi Liz! Thank you for this delicious recipe. I was calculating the pesto calories however as per my calculation 2 tbsp has 157 calories, 1.8 g carbs, 16.2 g fat (since you added 1 cup olive oil) and 2.3 g prot… correct me if I am wrong :) thanks again!

    1. If substituting the pine nuts for walnuts/cashews/pistachios:
      1) do I still toast them? How long and at what temperature?
      2)can I use a mix of the three kinds of nuts or should I stick with all of one kind?
      Thank you!

  9. The whole lemon and zest was too much lemon for me so I added more garlic and pine nuts. Seemed to even it out a bit. Just putt in the freezer!

  10. I love Pesto, however my daughter has a nut allergy. Do you have any suggestions other than the ones you posted for swapping them out for something else?

  11. Great recipe but it is taking more then 2 hours to freeze. It may take longer to freeze then 2 hours. It tastes good,also I did not use the lemon juice or Zest it still turned out great. Al if you do not have a food processor you will need one a blender will not work. Love this it is worth all the work.

  12. I try not to use oil or consume oil of any kind in my food. Do I HAVE to use olive oil when making your pesto?

      1. Do not wish to be a member of this site

        To make pesto w/o oil or cheese, for freezing: Just use the same proportions of fresh basil, garlic and lemon juice that you normally use for your pesto and pound, crush or blend in a food processor then freeze in half pint batches. When ready to use defrost, add cheese and oil and mix by hand and add to your recipe.

  13. My daughter has a severe nut allergy. I’m growing fresh basil & wanting to make pesto. Anything I can use instead of pine nuts? Or just completely omit the nuts & hopefully still taste awesome? Thanks!

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