Sauces

Fresh Basil Pesto

Bright basil, toasted pine nuts and a measured amount of parmesan and olive oil.

SaucesPasta / Pizza SauceItalianHeat: NoneNo-Cook

How to Use This Sauce

Primary use: Pasta and finishing sauce
Best with: Whole-grain pasta, Fish, Roasted vegetables
Other ways to use it: Sandwich spread, Grain-bowl drizzle, Chicken topping
Suggested amount: 1 tablespoon per pasta serving or piece of fish
Flavor: Herbaceous · Garlic-Forward · Nutty
Texture: Coarse, spoonable
Batch yield: About 171 g prepared (10 servings of 1 tablespoon (about 15 g))
Serving size: 1 tablespoon (about 15 g) · 10 servings per batch

Allergens: Milk, Tree nuts. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

Use This Sauce With

10 min Serves 2 Pasta / Pizza Sauce · Italian

SaucessaucecomponentEveryday FavoritesPasta / Pizza SauceItalianHerbaceousGarlic-ForwardNuttyPastaFishChickenVegetablesSandwiches & WrapsGrain BowlsNo cooking requiredUnder 15 minLower sodiumVegetarian Freezer-Friendly

Full recipe: About 171 g prepared (10 servings of 1 tablespoon (about 15 g))
Serving size: 1 tablespoon (about 15 g)
Servings per batch: 10

Servings to prepare changes how much you cook; it never changes the size of one serving. My portion (in My Week) changes your planned nutrition.

Contains: Milk, Tree nuts

Ingredients

Prepare 2

Preparing: 2 servings

Tick anything you already have.

Sweetness choices — tap to lower sugar

Use the listed ingredients and amounts. Nutrition, saved shopping and meal planning remain based on this version.

Preparation guidance only. When a supported swap is chosen, Nutrition per serving below shows the adjusted values; filters, sugar screening, exports, Shopping and My Week stay based on the written recipe. A different sweetener does not establish diabetes suitability; total carbs, portion and verified sugars still matter.

Sugar alcohols may cause digestive symptoms; keep xylitol away from dogs. Aspartame must be avoided with PKU. No substitute is universally the healthiest choice.

Product conversion chart FDA sweetener guidance

Instructions

Nutrition per serving

Estimated nutrition per serving — 1 tablespoon (about 15 g)

Calories	61
Total fat	6.3 g
Saturated fat	0.9 gKeep low
Sodium	18 mgLow
Total carbohydrate	0.7 g
Fiber	0.2 g
Total sugars	0.1 g
Added sugars	Not available
Protein	1 g

Estimates based on the listed ingredients; actual values vary by brand. Nutrition is per one stated serving and does not change when you make more or fewer batches or servings.

Nutrition incomplete

Why this result?

Added sugar not verified; source and serving review required
Added sugar not verified
Set your carbohydrate targets to check meal-plan fit

This portion only — the rest of the meal and day are not checked.

Diabetes Meal Planning

Use selected screens

Calculation basis & sources

Per-serving estimates from every weighed ingredient divided by 10 servings of 1 tablespoon (about 15 g). Basil, fresh: 50 g; https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/172232/nutrients; Nuts, pine nuts, dried: 20 g; https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/170591/nutrients; Cheese, parmesan, hard: 15 g; https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/170848/nutrients; Oil, olive, salad or cooking: 45 g; https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/171413/nutrients; Garlic, raw: 6 g; https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/169230/nutrients; Lemon juice, raw: 15 g; https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/167747/nutrients; Beverages, water, tap, drinking: 20 g; https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/173647/nutrients. Cholesterol, potassium and added sugars are not calculated. Not laboratory verified; no diabetes, heart-health or weight-loss claim is made.

USDA SR Legacy weighed ingredient estimates

Source data checked 2026-10-29; no professional review documented.

Lower sodium: 300 mg sodium or less per stated serving. This is a site guideline, not the FDA "low sodium" label claim.

Heart-healthy tips

Use about 1 tablespoon per pasta serving or piece of fish. Nutrition below is for 1 tablespoon (about 15 g), not the whole batch.

Storage & Meal Prep Tips

Applies to: Fresh herb and oil sauce, after mixing. Times assume safe preparation, prompt cooling when needed, a refrigerator at 40°F / 4°C or below, and a freezer at 0°F / -18°C or below.

Refrigerator: Raw garlic and herbs in oil must be refrigerated: use within 4 days. Never store at room temperature.

Freezer: Freezer-Friendly. Best quality within 1–2 months.

To thaw: Thaw in the refrigerator — never on the counter.

To reheat or serve: Serve at room temperature; stir before using. Do not boil.

After thawing: After thawing in the refrigerator: use within 3–4 days.

Meal prep tip: Herbs darken over time; press plastic on the surface or top with a thin layer of oil. Freeze in ice-cube trays for longer storage. Label packages with the recipe name, portion, and date frozen.

Raw dough / unbaked option: Freeze without cheese when possible and stir it in after thawing.

Storage guidance sources

Category guidance matched to this recipe's preparation state; sources checked 2026-10-24. This is not a laboratory shelf-life test of the exact recipe.