Thai basil pesto in a round white dish with a stainless steel spoon in front of a bamboo board with flatbread next to a sprig of thai basil on a grey placemat all on a wooden surface (with logo overlay)

Thai Basil Pesto

Thai Basil has a spicy, tangy flavor that is perfect for a savory pesto that can be made in about 5 minutes with 6 simple ingredients.

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Did you know there are different types of basil? I didn’t until we bought an Aerogarden back in March. Yes, when the COVID quarantines started, we decided to go ahead and do a garden, even though we weren’t planning it this year. But, with how hot it gets in Houston, herbs just don’t survive outside.

Our friends have an Aerogarden and have really liked it, so we bought one, too. (I’ll do a full review later of it) It is a great way to grow herbs indoors without needing a lot of sunlight.

We got the herb kit for the garden, and it came with two different types of basil. The one we use the most, and the most common one, is Genovese Basil. But the other, Thai Basil, is very different. It has more of a tart flavor compared to sweet Genovese Basil. Thai Basil is from Southeast Asia and it has a spicier aroma and flavor.

Thai Basil is shaped more like mint leaves with a pointed end. It is also sturdier than the sweet basil we are typically used to cooking with.

Once the herbs grow too tall, they start to outgrow the garden. At one point, we had a lot of Thai Basil, so we were trying to figure out how to use it. I wasn’t so sure about what to do since I could only fathom basil being sweet and in Italian dishes. As we thought more about it, we decided this basil could make a great green pesto.

Step by Step

Gather your ingredients.

Thai basil pesto ingredients in stainless steel bowls: thai basil leaves, garlic cloves, oil, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper all on a wooden surface

Place the garlic cloves and Thai Basil in a food processor. Pulse about 15-20 times to chop it into smaller pieces.

Basil and garlic in a food processor on a wooden surface

Scrape the sides of the food processor and pulse again until everything is finely chopped.

Chopped basil leaves and garlic in a food processor on a wooden surface

Add the olive oil, salt, and pepper and pulse again.

Thai basil pesto in a food processor on a wooden surface

Sprinkle in the parmesan cheese and pulse until your desired consistency. If it’s too dry, you may need to add some more oil, 1/2 tsp at a time.

Thai Basil Pesto in a round white bowl with a stainless steel spoon next to a bamboo board with flatbread all on a grey placemat on a wooden surface

Leftovers

Store the Thai Basil Pesto in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The oil may separate as it sits, so give the pesto a good stir before using.

Recipe

Originally Published On: August 21, 2020

Thai basil pesto in a round white dish with a stainless steel spoon in front of a bamboo board with flatbread next to a sprig of thai basil on a grey placemat all on a wooden surface

Thai Basil Pesto

Thai Basil has a spicy, tangy flavor that is perfect for a savory pesto that can be made in about 5 minutes with 6 simple ingredients.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course:
Homemade Staple
Cuisine:
American
Keyword:
basil
|
pesto
|
thai basil
Dietary Needs:
Egg-Free
|
Gluten-Free
|
Keto
|
Nut-Free
Servings: 4
5 from 5 votes

Ingredients

  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 cup Thai Basil
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 2 tbsp parmesan cheese

Recommended Equipment

Instructions

  • Place the garlic cloves and Thai Basil in a food processor
  • Pulse about 15-20 times to chop it into smaller pieces
  • Scrape the sides of the food processor and pulse again until everything is finely chopped
  • Add the olive oil, salt, and pepper and pulse again
  • Sprinkle in the parmesan cheese and pulse until your desired consistency
  • If it’s too dry, you may need to add some more oil, 1/2 tsp at a time
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Nutrition Facts
Thai Basil Pesto
Amount Per Serving (1 tbsp)
Calories 79 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Cholesterol 2mg1%
Sodium 622mg26%
Potassium 30mg1%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 336IU7%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 46mg5%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

20 thoughts on “Thai Basil Pesto”

  1. I LOVE PESTO! It’s my favorite way to serve pasta. I’ve never made it at home, so this will be a fun recipe to try!

  2. 5 stars
    I am so glad that I read your blog about how to make a Thai Basil Pesto coz I don’t know how to do it. I always thought it wasn’t easy, that’s why I always buy the ready-to-serve pesto.
    This deserves 5-stars!

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