best pesto recipe please

[hermykne]

could i have your mixes please so i can use the bountiful supply up on my windowcill.

I don't actually use a recipe as such: i just lob in loads of basil, a handful of pine nuts, 2 crushed cloves of garlic, and whizz in food processor. scrape any stalks/leaves down and switch back on, add good olive oil slowly. also add between 1/4 to 1/2 juice of lemon, till the whole thing becomes sludgy. salt if you like. grate finely some parmesan, best you can get. mix this in (I don't process the cheese) put in clean jar in fridge.

about how much parmesan bundle? a tablespoon?
and enough oil to make the cinsistency i want?

I like it with hazelnuts:

Rigatoni with Hazelnut Pesto

This is a very smooth and elegant version of pesto, and it pairs well with Rigatoni pasta for a lovely summer main dish.

Serving: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes

1 cup hazelnuts
2 cups basil leaves
1 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon paprika
dash of salt
juice of 1/2 a lemon
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 pound rigatoni, cooked and drained

1. In a food processor, finely chop the hazelnuts. Add the basil leaves, and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

2. Add the olive oil in a steady stream, and then add the Parmesan cheese. Season with paprika, salt and lemon juice, and process until smooth. Toss the pesto with cooked pasta, and serve warm or at room temperature.

oh god, i'm crap on amounts. if you use a whole basil plant (sort of just over half fills my processor) then a handful of pine nuts and about a third of a cup of oil (sounds a lot i know, so just add gradually & see) - i usually grate a lot and put in about a handful, saving the rest for when i serve the pasta