ligurian pesto

Serves 4

2-3 Cloves Garlic

50-60 grams Pine Nuts

5-6 Cups Clean, Stemmed Genovese Basil (sweet soft basil) Leaves

50 -70 ml Olive Oil

75 grams Finely Grated Parmesan

500 grams pasta

In a pestle and mortar, crush the garlic. Add in the pine nuts and crush and stir to create a crumbly paste. Add in most of the parmesan and continue to bash and stir. Start to add the basil, half at a time, crushing it to break the leaves down. Add the remaining leaves and continue to crush and stir.

Slowly add some of the olive oil to begin creating a softer paste. Add more oil, a bit at a time, until a sauce begins to form.

The mixture should be textured and pale green. Add to hot pasta with a little of the pasta water to loosen the pesto. Add the remainder of the parmesan and toss once more.