Pesto Sauce is so easy to make. I just used our Nutribullet. The following explains how.
Making the Family Healthier
My family and I have been making small, realistic steps to help change our lifestyles. The children have done really well to cut out not only fizzy drinks but cordials too. Now they only have milk or water as a general rule (and fizzy/smoothies/milkshakes, whatever when out as a treat). Time is always the problem. I find as we are just so used to convenience these days that we don’t make the opportunities to do things properly.
Therefore, I have slowly being trying to improve our diets based on what we already eat. Instead of a frozen burger I have made them from mincemeat. Trying to cut down the prepared food which will then (hopefully) mean less sugar and salt in our diets. Today I decided to make pesto sauce to add to the dish Kat’s Pasta, and this is how I got on.
Ingredients to make Pesto Sauce
- 50g pine nuts – (gently fry them so they turn golden brown)
- 80g fresh basil (I am not growing this very successfully but long term do want to be able to just pick this from the garden).
- 50g Parmesan cheese (I actually think that next time I will try it with a little less)
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 150ml olive oil
- I added 2 generous handfuls of spinach (optional)
Method to Making Pesto Sauce
Making pesto really is simple. After you have browned the pine nuts you simply stick everything into a food processor. I used my Nutribullet. You can keep it for up to two weeks in the fridge, but I made it all up in a sauce (add 3 tins of chopped tomatoes and a tub of double cream), separated it and froze it for another occasion.
Verdict of home-made Pesto Sauce
I was a little worried that it would taste different to the jars of pesto sauce and my family would not like it. I accounted for this and served their dinner up with the sauce on the side of their plates with the option of them mixing it in themselves (especially for my sensory seeker).
But everyone loved it – and I have to admit that I even let them lick their plates clean! I am not sure the difference in cost, as a jar of pesto is really cheap. But the end of the day what price is health and I am sure that using fresh herbs is much healthier. Once I get the hang of growing herbs too this should bring the cost down considerably.
Check out Kate on Thin Ice’s Post: Nutribullet food hacks to simplify your life