Happy meala Recipes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, tightly packed
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Place the garlic cloves and a pinch of salt in the mortar. Crush the garlic with the pestle until it forms a paste.
2. Add the pine nuts to the mortar and crush them with the pestle until they are coarsely ground and well mixed with the garlic.
3. Add the basil leaves a handful at a time. Crush and grind the leaves against the sides of the mortar until they break down into a paste. Repeat this process until all the basil has been incorporated.
4. Once the basil is fully crushed, mix in the grated Parmesan cheese.
5. Gradually pour the olive oil into the mortar while stirring with the pestle, until the pesto reaches your desired consistency.
6. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt if needed.
7. Use the pesto immediately, or store it in a jar topped with a little extra olive oil to prevent browning. It can be refrigerated for up to one week or frozen for longer storage.