Pesto is traditionally made with fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, and parmesan cheese. Although there is flexibility in the recipeyou can swap out the basil for a different fresh herb, or use walnuts instead of pine nutsit is the nuts and cheese that bring the most calories to the recipe. For a richer flavor, it is best to toast the pine nuts before adding to the food processor. And to get a more consistent mince of the garlic, put the cloves in the food processor first and pulse a few times to begin the chopping process. Another way to cut the calories is to either use less pasta or eliminate it completely. Pesto is a great topping for grilled chicken or fish, a colorful addition to quinoa and a tasty surprise spooned over roasted vegetables.