Several types of basil work well for making pesto.
Basic pesto contains olive oil, pine nuts, minced garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, salt and fresh basil. The best basil for your recipe depends on the flavor profile you're creating. Different types of this herb have unique flavors and aromas, so you can marry the finished pesto to a greater variety of foods. Fresh pesto offers a rich texture and taste for everything from sandwiches and stuffing to pizza, pasta and salad.
Fresh Grown Basil
The best basil (Ocimum basilicum) for your pesto is that which you pick fresh from the garden. The good news is that this member of the mint family isn't difficult to grow indoors or out. You need a sunny location where the plant receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Make sure you use a container with good drainage. Basil seeds start growing within a week. Once you see at least 2 pairs of leaves on the seedlings carefully separate them into rows minimally 6 inches apart. Once established, you can start harvesting the fresh basil for pesto and other culinary endeavors by gently pinching off the leaves. Look for bright-colored leaves with no signs of mold or pests. Your pruning encourages new growth, too.
Genovese basil is an Italian cultivar preferred for pesto by many chefs. The Genovese leaves are larger, meaning their flavor is more subtle. The aroma is akin to cloves. In the garden, this plant grows between 1- to 2-feet tall, bearing crinkled leaves. Besides pesto, Genovese basil tastes great on Caprese salad and in spaghetti sauce.
Lemon Basil
As the name implies, lemon basil has a distinctive citrus taste and lemony scent. The plant grows in excess of 2 feet tall with narrow, flat leaves. Lemon basil is slightly sweeter than classic basil. When you add this to pesto, consider including some fresh lemon zest and a pinch of sugar to bring out all the flavor notes.
Purple Ruffles Basil
To bring a whole new color to your pesto try purple ruffles basil. This is a stunning landscape plant with ruffled leaves. It looks a bit like dark opal basil, and grows up to 18 inches tall in the garden. The pink flowers from this plant are also edible. In pesto, purple ruffles adds a cinnamon and licorice taste along with mild floral notes. The 3-inch leaves make excellent garnishes, too.
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