This makes a wonderful sauce for salads, fish, pasta and even as a filling for toasties! For something different, try stirring the pesto into mashed potato. If you would like your sauce a brighter green, add a small handful of parsley leaves. Pesto is made in minutes with the Dualit Hand Blender.

Shopping List

• 50g basil leaves
• 1 clove of garlic, crushed
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 120ml (9 fl oz) extra-virgin olive oil
• 50g parmesan, grated
• 50g pine nuts
• Freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Put the basil leaves in the Hand Blender's chopping bowl with the garlic, salt, pine nuts and just enough of the oil to make the ingredients combine.
2. Mix until the pine nuts and basil are well chopped and a chunky paste has formed.
3. Add the parmesan and while mixing, slowly pour the oil through the feeding tube in a thin, steady stream.
4. Mix until the pesto is fairly smooth and creamy. Add the black pepper to taste.

TIP: Pesto can be frozen for up to three months or decant into a sterilised jar, pour over olive oil to cover and store in the fridge for up to one month.