30/06/2026
One of my favourite herbs to use in the kitchen is basil. I simply love the aroma of fresh basil leaves — it is almost intoxicating. Their beautiful fragrance instantly transports me to a sunny herb garden and adds something truly special to every dish they touch.
Think making your own basil pesto is difficult? Nope! It is one of the easiest things to make if you have all the ingredients on hand. Last night I made a big jar full, and I must say, it tastes nothing like the pesto you buy in the shops — in the very best way.
The wonderful part is that you can substitute those expensive pine nuts with sunflower seeds. For extra flavour, lightly toast them beforehand. I also used local “Parmesan” cheese made by La Montanara Cheese in Ashton, Western Cape. It never disappoints and is the perfect cheese to use when making pesto. Their cheeses are available from Checkers.
Here is my recipe:
🌿 200–300 g fresh basil leaves
🧂 A pinch of salt and black pepper
🧄 3 fresh garlic cloves
🫒 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
🌻 3 tablespoons sunflower seeds, lightly toasted
🧀 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Place all the ingredients, except the olive oil, into a food processor and blend until fine but still slightly chunky. Add the olive oil last and give it one final blitz until everything is beautifully combined.
You can thank me later!
What do you enjoy your pesto with?
