With this recipe, the key is to let the pestle do the work. Begin by moving the ingredients within the mortar with the pestle in a gentle circular motion. The pestle should remain in constant contact with the mortar as it moves across the walls and bottom. This motion presses the ingredients together and breaks the cellular structure, releasing flavor and combining.

You can substitute the cheese for another favorite that you might have as long as it is a hard aged cheese, such as Pecorino Romano (sheep milk), Asiago (cow milk) or Piave (cow milk). Soft or semi-soft cheeses will not work in the mortar and pestle.

METHOD:

Gently wash the basil leaves in cold water and set them to dry on a towel. Avoid rubbing and bruising the leaves.

Place the garlic in the mortar and crush to begin to release its juices. Add the pine nuts and work with the garlic until a cream begins to form. Add the salt and continue to mix for 30 seconds. The salt provides an abrasive to assist in breaking down the basil leaves.

Add the basil, which will fill the mortar. Work the basil leaves into the nut cream in the same motion used in the previous step. The basil will begin to shred and combine with the nut mixture. This is where you see the advantage in using tender leaves of basil. The firmer the leaves the harder it is to break them down in the mortar. Work quickly at this step so basil does not have time to oxidize and turn dark.

Add in the cheese and oil. Continue to mix gently until combined.

As you make this pesto recipe you can adjust the ingredients to your liking and to the use of your pesto.

To use as a sauce for pasta or to brush on flavor in grilling, you can increase the

olive oil. If it’s as an addition to a tomato sauce or as a pizza topping or sandwich spread, you can reduce the olive oil. As an addition to lasagna, you can increase the cheese.

CHEF’S NOTE

We use a mortar and pestle because it provides sufficient abrasion to shred and combine the ingredients (as opposed to a smooth-surfaced bowl and spoon). The recipe can be adjusted to accommodate a smaller or larger mortar, or a food processor.