Living in San Francisco I’m spoiled by having incredible diverse food at my door-step and since supermarkets are so expensive, eating out versus in doesn’t have the same benefits as elsewhere. Still you need to have food around so I make this once a week and have been doing so for many years. It’s undergone many refinements and never tastes quite the same each time. Use it on bread, pasta, omeletes, or salad dressing as a good way to get some raw/fresh and yummy food.
Combine in the food processor:
Add additional olive oil to make it the right consistency if necessary. This is a strong pesto and can be served as is or spread by adding more oil. It’s tough to give exact quantities cause the quality of the ingredients change the taste. Some considerations: if your garlic has sprouts remove them. Remove all of the stems from the basil as they will make it bitter. If you can’t find sweet basil and your pesto tastes a little bitter, add more maple syrup. The olives provide saltiness so add more if you need it saltier. If you can taste maple syrup, chili pepper, lemon/vinegar as individual ingredients you added too much.
I make a similar Aglio e Oilio. Find using one or two dried red chillies after the anchovies have broken up flavors the oil rather well. Teh crushed chillies get added in the end. Personal choice I suppose. LoL
Believe it or not , we have tons of basil growing in the garden in the middle of the desert. Have been meaning to try and make a home made pesto. Will try your recipe and let you know. Thanks