What is pesto?

When you think of traditional Italian sauces, basil pesto is easily in the top picks of anyone's list. Simple and flavorful, pesto is known internationally as an easy way to add lots of flavor to almost anything. A Pesto is very simple, with a remarkably complex flavor. Don't buy canned pesto if you can avoid it -- it's incredibly easy to make pesto at home! All you need is a few high-quality, easily accessible ingredients, alongside a food processor or mortar-and-pestle.

Fresh basil leaves make up the bulk of fresh pesto; the leaves are first washed, then dried. These are added to a food processor (or, more traditionally, a mortar) alongside fresh garlic and salt.

Blend until smooth, and then add pine nuts along with grated cheese and olive oil.

Blended together to form a sauce-like paste, pesto can last for up to a week if stored covered in your refrigerator. Whether worked into a simple pasta dish, used as a base sauce for pizza, or served simply on crusty bread with butter, pesto works to add an incredible flavor to otherwise simple food. And there's also the health benefits -- basil is a well-known homeopathic remedy for many cold symptoms as well as skin and digestive problems!