If you don’t have a food processor, you can still make pesto! All you need is a blender or a powerful immersion blender. Start by finely chopping the garlic and adding it to the blender with the olive oil.
Next, add the pine nuts and pulse until they’re chopped. Then, add the basil leaves and Parmesan cheese and blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper and enjoy!
- Start by finely chopping your garlic cloves
- You want them to be as close to a paste as possible
- Next, add in your pine nuts and continue to chop until they’re also a fine paste
- Add in the leaves from your fresh basil and give everything a final chop
- Now it’s time to start drizzling in your olive oil while you continue to chop everything together
- 5 Keep going until everything is well combined and has reached the desired consistency
- Season with salt and pepper to taste
How to Make Pesto Without A Food Processor
How to Make Pesto With a Blender
Assuming you would like a blog post about how to make pesto with a blender:Pesto is a delicious, nutty sauce that originates from Genoa, Italy. It’s traditionally made with fresh basil leaves, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and pine nuts.
But nowadays, there are endless variations of pesto – you can use different herbs (like cilantro or mint), swap out the cheese (try feta or goat cheese!), and even add in other ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers. The possibilities are endless!Making pesto at home is incredibly easy – all you need is a blender (or food processor) and some basic ingredients.
Here’s a simple recipe for classic basil pesto:Ingredients:
– 2 cups fresh basil leaves
– 1/2 cup olive oil
– 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
– 1/4 cup pine nuts (you can also use walnuts)
– 2 cloves garlic, peeled
– salt and pepper to tasteInstructions:
1. Add all ingredients into the blender or food processor.
2. Blend until smooth – if it’s too thick, add in a little more olive oil until it reaches your desired consistency. That’s it!
Now that you know how to make basic pesto sauce, get creative and experiment with different flavor combinations. Be sure to share your favorite recipes with us in the comments below!
How to Make Pesto With a Mortar And Pestle
Pesto is a delicious, flavorful sauce made from fresh herbs, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. It’s perfect for topping pasta or using as a dip. Making pesto with a mortar and pestle is the traditional way to do it, and it results in a more flavorful sauce.
Here’s how to make pesto with a mortar and pestle:Start by crushing garlic cloves in the mortar with the pestle. Add some salt and continue crushing until the garlic becomes a paste.
Then, add your fresh herbs (basil, parsley, etc.) and crush them into the mixture. Finally, add the olive oil and Parmesan cheese and mix everything together well.If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, you can also make pesto in a food processor.
Just combine all of the ingredients in the food processor and blend until smooth.
How to Make Pesto With a Food Processor
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to make pesto, then look no further than your food processor! Making pesto in a food processor is simple and straightforward, and the end result is a delicious sauce that can be used on all sorts of dishes. Here’s how to do it:
1. Start by adding the garlic cloves and pine nuts to the food processor. Pulse until they’re finely chopped.2. Add the basil leaves next, and pulse again until everything is well combined.
3. Slowly add in the olive oil while the food processor is running, until you reach your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.4. Finally, add in the Parmesan cheese and pulse once more until combined.
Pesto in Blender Or Food Processor
Pesto is a flavorful and versatile sauce that can be made in either a blender or food processor. Each method has its own benefits, so it’s really up to the cook to decide which equipment to use.Making pesto in a blender is quick and easy, and results in a smooth sauce.
This is the ideal method if you want to use very finely chopped ingredients, such as garlic or nuts. Blenders also do a great job of emulsifying oil and water-based ingredients, resulting in a creamy texture.However, some people prefer the rustic texture of pesto made in a food processor.
This method is better for chunkier ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes or large leaves of basil. It’s also more forgiving if you happen to over-process the ingredients – they’ll still taste good, just with a little more texture.

Credit: georgiapellegrini.com
Can You Use Blender Instead of Food Processor for Pesto?
If you’re in a pinch and don’t have a food processor on hand, can you use a blender instead to make pesto? The answer is yes! While the texture of your pesto may be slightly different than if made in a food processor, it will still be absolutely delicious.
Simply add all of your ingredients – fresh basil leaves, Parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts and salt – into the blender and blend until smooth. If your pesto is too thick, thin it out with a little bit more olive oil. Give it a taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.
Then enjoy on your favorite pasta dish or use as a sandwich spread. So next time you find yourself without a food processor, don’t fret – grab that blender and whip up some tasty pesto!
What Blender is Best for Pesto?
There are a few things to consider when choosing the best blender for pesto. First, you’ll want to make sure that the blender can handle nuts and other hard ingredients – after all, pesto is typically made with a variety of fresh herbs, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and pine nuts. Second, you’ll want to choose a blender that has variable speed settings.
This will allow you to create a smooth consistency without over-processing the ingredients. Finally, if you’re looking for extra versatility, choose a blender that comes with attachments for chopping and mincing – this way, you can use your appliance for other tasks in the kitchen as well.
Should Pesto Be Smooth Or Chunky?
If you’re a fan of pesto, you might have strong opinions about whether it should be smooth or chunky. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of each style to help you decide which is right for you.Smooth pesto is typically made with a food processor or blender, which results in a uniform consistency.
This can be a plus if you’re looking for a sauce that will coat your pasta evenly or mix well with other ingredients. Smooth pesto can also be easier to spread on bread or crackers as a dip or appetizer.
This type is usually made by hand with a mortar and pestle, which gives it a more coarse consistency. Chunky pesto often has larger pieces of garlic and herbs, which can make it more flavorful than its smooth counterpart. It can also be more visually appealing, especially if you like to see chunks of fresh basil in your sauce.
So what’s the verdict? There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing between smooth and chunky pesto – it all comes down to personal preference. If you can’t decide, why not try both and see which style you like best?
How Do You Thicken Homemade Pesto?
If you want to thicken your homemade pesto, there are a few things you can do. One option is to add more nuts or seeds to the pesto. This will help to absorb some of the liquid and make the pesto thicker.
Another option is to add less olive oil when you are blending the ingredients together. This will also help to reduce the amount of liquid in the pesto and make it thicker. Finally, you can add some grated cheese to the pesto which will help to bind everything together and make it thicker.
Whichever method you choose, just be sure to adjust the seasoning as necessary since adding these ingredients will change the flavor slightly.
Conclusion
Pesto is a flavorful sauce made from fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and pine nuts. While it’s traditionally made in a food processor, you can easily make it without one using a few simple tools.To start, finely chop the garlic and basil using a sharp knife.
Then, add the Parmesan cheese and pine nuts to the mixture and continue chopping until everything is well combined. Finally, drizzle in the olive oil until the desired consistency is achieved. Season with salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!

I’m Asma Sheikh, a home cook and recipe developer with a passion for all things food. On my blog (The Kitchen Advisor), you’ll find everything from healthy weeknight dinners to decadent desserts, and everything in between. So whether you’re a seasoned home cook or just getting started in the kitchen, I hope you’ll find something here that inspires you to get cooking!