Wash 2 cups of fresh basil leaves thoroughly, remove dirt or debris, and pat them dry. Gather all ingredients.

In a food processor, combine the fresh basil leaves and ¼ cup of pine nuts. Pulse for 10-15 seconds until coarsely chopped.

Add peeled garlic cloves and ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese to the processor. Pulse for about 10 seconds until combined.

With the processor running, slowly drizzle in ½ cup olive oil and the juice of half a lemon. Process until smooth.

Taste the pesto and season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper, pulsing briefly to combine.

Transfer the pesto to a serving bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and serve with pasta, sandwiches, or veggies.