When fresh basil is in season, flavor things up! This lemon basil sauce might be my new favorite way to use it.
Homemade pesto is delicious in its own right. But this fresh basil sauce is a flavorful alternative that that is dairy and nut-free. The addition of lemon juice gives it a bit of zing!
Garlic Lemon Basil Sauce
When you’re harvesting basil from the garden, be sure to make up a batch of this delicious garlic basil sauce!
You’ll need a food processor or blender for this basil sauce recipe. You won’t be able to get the ingredients chopped finely enough by hand.
Ingredients
Fresh basil — The delicious herb is what summertime tastes like. The flavor is so recognizable and a favorite of many, especially for use in your favorite Italian recipes. It’s the standout ingredient for this garlicky sauce.
Lemon juice — Use fresh lemons or bottled lemon juice. Either works.
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Garlic — Fresh garlic adds that spicy zing we all love so much. If you keep a jar of fermented garlic in the fridge, feel free to use that.
Olive oil — Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. The flavor of the oil will shine through.
Salt and pepper — Use your favorite table salt or sea salt and ground black pepper.
Note that this basil sauce is made without pine nuts — or any nuts at all — making it a perfect recipe for those with allergies.
Choose healthy unblemished basil leaves for the best results.
Making This Sauce
Use the leaves of the basil, removing them from the stems. Choose clean, unblemished leaves. To measure the basil leaves, pack them somewhat firmly.
Simply drop all of the ingredients into the bowl of a food processor or blender and blend until pureed. It’s that simple!
Hot tip: If your blender has measurements marked on the side, you can measure the basil right in the blender and add the remaining ingredients.
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Store this basil sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. To preserve this sauce longer, freeze in small containers for several months.
Use this lemon basil sauce for chicken, for pasta, stir it into pasta salad, or mix it into mayonnaise for a flavorful sandwich spread.
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Delicious Garlic Lemon Basil Sauce
This basil sauce is flavorful and lemony, perfect for adding flavor to meals. It's a great option for people who need to eliminate dairy from their diet.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed firmly
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/8 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Remove basil leaves from the stems. Wash and dry leaves.
- Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Process for 30 seconds or so; scrape down sides.
- Continue processing until the ingredients are pureed.
- Store basil sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze in small containers to preserve for several months.
Notes
Use the leaves of the basil, removing them from the stems. Choose clean, unblemished leaves. To measure the basil leaves, pack them somewhat firmly.
To use an immersion blender, combine ingredients in a wide-mouth jar. Pulse the immersion blender on and off, moving it up and down until all basil leaves are incorporated, then run blender until the sauce is fully pureed.
Drizzle this sauce over grilled chicken, toss it with pasta salad, or stir it into mayo for a flavorful sandwich spread.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 164Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 355mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
