The lime zest and juice are the departure from the most traditional recipe, and a deliberate one, they add a citrus brightness that makes the sauce as useful alongside grilled fish as it is stirred into soup or spread on bread. Everything goes into a food processor and pulses until relatively smooth, not completely smooth, because a little texture makes it more interesting to eat than a paste. A mortar and pestle produces a coarser, more rustic result and is the traditional method if you have the patience and the arm for it.
Two servings is the yield, which makes this a sauce to make right before you need it rather than a jar to keep on the shelf. A sealed container in the fridge will hold it for three days, but pistou is at its most vivid the day it is made, when the basil is still bright green and the garlic has not yet mellowed into the oil. Make it fresh, use it the same evening.
Key Ingredients in This Recipe
You’ll find the complete list of ingredients and exact quantities in the recipe below.
- Basil
- Garlic – or garlic paste
- Olive oil
- Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
- Lime zest and juice – for a little bit of extra zing. Citrus zest and juice is also an option.
- Salt & pepper
How to Make French Pistou
This is very simple and will take seconds if you have a food processor or minutes when you use a mortar and pestle. You need to place basil, garlic, olive oil, lime zest and juice, cheese, and salt & pepper in your food processor and process it until it is relatively smooth. How smooth you want it to be, is entirely up to you; my advise would be to not make it too smooth, leave some texture as that will add interest to the condiment.
If you’re going to use a mortar and pestle, crush the basil leaves and garlic first with some oil and then slowly add more oil and the rest of the ingredients.
Other Pestos to Try
French Pistou
Pin Recipe FacebookIngredients
- 1/2 cup basil leaves
- 1/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon lime rind
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 3/4 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 clove garlic (NOTE 1)
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a food processor and process until relatively smooth. (NOTE 2)
- Taste and add salt & pepper if necessary.
Notes
- One clove of garlic can be replaced by 1 teaspoon of garlic paste.
- If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a mortar and pestle. Start with the basil, garlic and some olive oil. Add more oil, and the rest of the ingredients.
- Keep the Pistou in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.