Garden fresh pesto is one of my authentic Italian family recipes. In this post, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about pesto!

Fresh basil is one of my favorite plants to grow in my summer garden. I love to make garden fresh pesto using my basil with walnuts and pecans. I am going to share with you my Italian family recipe! I will also tell you about different ingredients used in pesto, and the best way to harvest your basil.

What is Pesto?

pes·to

/ˈpestō/ noun

1. a sauce of crushed basil leaves, nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, typically served with pasta.

Garden fresh pesto is a traditional Italian delicacy, and my family has a recipe that has been handed down for ages. We pride ourselves on the fresh taste of our pesto when using all fresh ingredients.

While pesto is a traditional dish, each family may have their own twist on the recipe to make it their own. Some families may choose to use store bought basil, or add pine nuts, sun dried tomatoes, or red peppers. Each different ingredient will bring a slightly different flavor to the pesto. The main ingredient, however, is the basil.

My authentic family recipe for garden fresh pesto calls for walnuts and pecans! I’ll share it with you down below.

Garden Fresh Pesto

My pesto is garden fresh because I only make it using basil from my garden that I plant and pick myself. To harvest basil for your own garden fresh pesto, you will want to make sure that you are picking the sprigs with long stems. You should trim the plant from the top down, and leave a pair of leaves at the bottom so that it can keep growing after you’ve harvested it. This way, you will always have more basil for your pesto recipe!

In addition to the freshly picked basil, we also use fresh garlic also from our garden. The ingredients really make a difference in the overall taste, and it is so delicious when everything is fresh. You could also choose to pick/dry your own tomatoes for red pesto, the options are endless!

I absolutely adore garden fresh pesto and all of that super fresh garlic flavor! It’s something I especially start to crave more once the weather gets warmer and the garden starts to flourish! While store-bought pesto can taste great, absolutely nothing compares to the flavor of garden fresh pesto and my family’s recipe. I put pesto on everything I can: eggs, stir fry, salmon, and chicken. I honestly love it on just about anything.

Authentic Pesto Recipe

When a recipe is passed down for generations, it can truly be such a comforting taste. This recipe is something I’ve enjoyed my whole life, and something I love sharing with my girls. They are just like me and cannot get enough pesto.

Here is one of the best tips I have for my pesto. I freeze little bits in ice cube trays and when I need some pesto for a dish I pop one out to cook with. So easy and they are the perfect size portions. You can use as many or as little as you need for the meal you’re planning. With this trick, you can have garden fresh pesto all year long!

Do you have a special family twist on the classic pesto? If you’re willing, drop your secrets in the comments!