Step 1: Begin by toasting your walnuts or seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant and golden brown. Let them cool completely before starting the pesto recipe without pine nuts.
Step 2: In a food processor, combine the cooled toasted nuts, garlic cloves, and sea salt. Pulse until the mixture forms a coarse, sandy texture.
Step 3: Add the fresh basil leaves and lemon juice to the food processor. Pulse several times until the basil is finely chopped.
Step 4: With the motor running on low, slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil in a steady stream. This helps the pesto recipe without pine nuts emulsify and become creamy.
Step 5: Add the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and black pepper. Pulse briefly just to combine; you don’t want to over-process the cheese.
Step 6: Taste your pesto recipe without pine nuts and adjust the salt or lemon juice if needed. Transfer to a jar and serve immediately or store with a thin layer of oil on top.