Craving a fresh, effortless pasta sauce? As someone who's mastered Provençal flavors over years of home cooking, I recommend this authentic pistou recipe—ready in just 5 minutes with only three ingredients.
Basil, garlic, olive oil. That's it. Simple, vibrant, and packed with flavor.
Serves 4 - Prep time: 10 minutes
- 2-3 cloves of garlic
- 1 bunch fresh basil
- 100 ml olive oil
- Salt, to taste
Equipment: Blender, airtight glass jar
1. Rinse and pat dry the basil leaves.
2. Peel the garlic.
3. Roughly chop it.
4. Add basil, garlic, olive oil, and a pinch of salt to the blender.
5. Blend until smooth and homogeneous.
6. Transfer to an airtight glass jar.
Voilà! Your homemade pistou is ready. Quick, budget-friendly, and with ingredients you control—no preservatives.
Toss with pasta for a classic dish, spread on toast as an appetizer, or use as a marinade. Store in the fridge in an airtight jar. For extras, freeze in ice cube trays—it freezes beautifully.
Pistou and pesto aren't the same. This pistou relies solely on basil, garlic, and olive oil—no nuts or cheese required.
Traditional pesto Genovese adds pine nuts and grated Parmesan or Pecorino for creaminess.
Love pesto? Start with this pistou base and stir in 1-2 tablespoons grated Parmesan (or Pecorino) plus a handful of pine nuts. Just as easy!
In spring, swap basil for wild garlic for a foraged twist on pistou.
