Basil pesto
Basil pesto is a vibrant Italian sauce made with fresh basil leaves, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts and extra virgin olive oil. The Thermomix TM7 chops the herbs and grinds the nuts in seconds, creating a silky, aromatic pesto without any hand chopping. Ideal for pasta, bruschetta or as a dip.
About this recipe
Basil pesto with the Thermomix TM7 is the recipe every Italian food lover should have in their repertoire. This all-in-one kitchen machine transforms fresh basil leaves, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts and garlic into a silky, restaurant-quality sauce in just a few minutes, without a single cut of the knife on your worktop. Searching for quick pesto recipes online delivers countless results, but few methods match the consistency the TM7 achieves: the herbs are chopped evenly, the nuts coarsely ground, the cheese grated finely and the olive oil emulsified into a velvety green sauce that never turns bitter from overheating. Homemade pesto tastes brighter than anything from a jar, and you control exactly how much salt and garlic goes in. Spoon it through warm pasta, spread it on bruschetta, stir it into soup or serve it as a dip at a summer barbecue. It is also an excellent make-ahead solution: a jar keeps in the fridge for days and freezes beautifully in ice cube portions.
Preparation tips
- Wash the fresh basil leaves and dry them thoroughly with a tea towel before adding them to the mixing bowl; excess water makes the pesto watery and dilutes the intense herbal flavour of the finished sauce.
- Toast the pine nuts briefly in a dry frying pan before grinding them in the TM7; this releases their natural oils and gives the pesto a deeper, nuttier taste than raw nuts would.
- Spoon the pesto into a sterilised jar and cover the surface with a thin layer of extra virgin olive oil before refrigerating; this seal keeps the basil vividly green and fresh for up to a week.
Recipe variations
- Vegan version: replace the Parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast and a squeeze of lemon juice; the TM7 still grinds the pine nuts and basil into a creamy plant-based pesto that is also lactose-free.
- Festive winter variation: swap half the basil for flat-leaf parsley and the pine nuts for walnuts, then add a touch of dried cranberry for a seasonal pesto that pairs wonderfully with a cheese board.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Weighing precision - The integrated scale of the Thermomix weighs the pine nuts and Parmesan cheese directly in the bowl, saving messy measuring cups. [Weighing]
- Herb chopping - The TM7 chops fresh basil leaves and garlic evenly in seconds, avoiding bruised herbs and bitter notes. [Chopping]
- Nut grinding - The Thermomix grinds pine nuts to a coarse, crumbly texture that gives the pesto its characteristic body. [Grinding]
- Cheese grating - The TM7 grates the Parmesan block finely so it melts seamlessly into the olive oil emulsion. [Grating]
- Silky emulsion - The Thermomix mixes the olive oil gradually into the basil mixture, creating a velvety sauce without separation. [Mixing]
Ingredients
- Parmesan cheese
- pine nuts
- garlic clove (optional)
- fresh basil leaves
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt