Creamy Pesto Sauce Recipe Easy Homemade Italian Flavor in 5 Minutes
A quick and easy creamy pesto sauce that balances fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, and cream cheese for a rich yet bright Italian flavor. Perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or as a versatile sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: About 1 cup (approximately 8 servings of 2 tablespoons each) 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed (washed and dried)
- 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted lightly (or walnuts as substitute)
- 2 medium garlic cloves, peeled
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Toast the pine nuts: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and stir frequently until golden and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Prepare the basil and garlic: Wash and pat dry the basil leaves. Peel the garlic cloves and trim off the ends.
- Blend the basil, garlic, and pine nuts: In a food processor, combine basil leaves, cooled pine nuts, and garlic. Pulse until coarsely chopped, about 30 seconds, scraping down sides as needed.
- Add the cheese and cream cheese: Spoon in grated Parmesan and softened cream cheese. Pulse again until well combined but still slightly textured.
- Stream in the olive oil: While the processor runs, slowly add olive oil in a steady stream to emulsify the mixture until desired creamy consistency is reached.
- Season and finish: Add fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Pulse a few more times to incorporate. Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Transfer and store: Spoon the creamy pesto into a jar or airtight container. Use immediately or chill for an hour to let flavors meld.
Notes
Use fresh basil for best flavor. Toast pine nuts carefully to avoid bitterness. Do not overprocess to maintain a slightly textured sauce. Use room temperature cream cheese for smooth blending. Add olive oil slowly to emulsify properly. Store with a thin layer of olive oil on top to prevent browning. Can substitute cream cheese and Parmesan for vegan alternatives. Pine nuts can be replaced with walnuts, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 0.2
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 11
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 1
- Fiber: 0.3
- Protein: 2
Keywords: creamy pesto sauce, homemade pesto, Italian sauce, basil sauce, easy pesto recipe, quick pesto, creamy basil sauce