Best 18 Herb Pesto Recipes

SUMMER HERB PESTO

Steps:

• Blend the garlic, basil, parsley, spinach, oregano, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a blender or food processor until smooth.

FOUR-CHEESE RAVIOLI WITH HERB PESTO

Steps:

• For the pesto: In a food processor, combine the basil, parsley, mint, Parmesan, pine nuts, anchovy paste, pepper and garlic. Pulse until chunky. With the machine running, gradually add the olive oil until the pesto is smooth.
• For the ravioli: In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta, mozzarella, mascarpone, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, nutmeg, 3/4 teaspoon salt and the pepper.
• In a small bowl, mix together the egg and 1 teaspoon water until smooth.
• Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the edges of the wonton wrappers with the egg mixture. Spoon 1 level tablespoon of the filling into the center of each wonton wrapper. Fold the opposite corners of each wonton wrapper over to form triangle shapes. Seal the edges firmly, pressing out any air around the filling. (Can be made a few hours in advance. Cover with foil and refrigerate until ready to use.)
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons salt and the olive oil. In batches, add the ravioli to the water and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but still firm to the bite, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, carefully remove the ravioli and drain in a colander. Transfer the ravioli to shallow soup bowls. Spoon the sauce over the ravioli and serve.

ASPARAGUS FRITTATA WITH BURRATA AND HERB PESTO

Steps:

• Rinse asparagus, and pat dry. Cut into 1-inch pieces on the diagonal, or into julienne strips if preferred. Set aside.
• In blender or small food processor, purée olive oil, basil and parsley to make a thin pesto. Season with salt and pepper.
• Put a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or other nonstick omelet pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add butter and swirl to coat pan, then add asparagus. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring for about a minute without browning.
• Quickly pour in eggs and stir with a wooden spoon, as if making scrambled eggs. Tilt pan and lift mixture at the edges to allow any runny egg from the top to make its way to the bottom. After 3 or 4 minutes, the frittata should be mostly set. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Lay a lid over the skillet, and turn off the heat. Leave for a minute or so, until frittata is moist and just done. (Alternatively, place pan under a hot broiler for a minute or so.)
• Set whole burrata in the center of frittata. Drizzle with herb pesto. Pierce burrata with tip of a knife and spoon contents over frittata. Cut frittata into wedges and serve directly from pan, garnished with basil leaves.

ROASTED NEW POTATOES WITH SPRING HERB PESTO

Steps:

• Blend parsley, chives, rosemary, 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, lemon peel, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in processor to coarse puree. (Pesto can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss potatoes and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in large bowl. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Arrange potatoes, cut side down, on rimmed baking sheet. Roast until potatoes are golden brown and tender, about 40 minutes. Using spatula, transfer potatoes to large bowl. Add pesto and toss to coat. Serve.

BEEF TENDERLOIN STUFFED WITH HERB PESTO

Steps:

• Position the meat on a cutting board so it is perpendicular to the board. With a sharp knife, make a 1-inch-deep incision along the length of the roast. Then use a sawing motion as you continue to cut, moving the knife down and to the left; with your fingers, begin to pry open the roast. Continue cutting, flattening the meat as you go to make a flat rectangular piece about 9 by 12 inches. (Don't worry if it looks a bit ragged.) Lightly pound the meat with a mallet to make it evenly flat. Season meat on both sides with salt and pepper. Lay the meat on a baking sheet cut side up and refrigerate while you prepare the pesto.
• Make the pesto: Put parsley, basil, garlic and olives in a food processor or blender. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Pulse to roughly chop, then add oil and process to a coarse purée. Add cheese, lemon zest and crushed red pepper and pulse briefly to combine.
• Spread pesto evenly over the cut surface of the beef, leaving a 1-inch border at all edges. Roll up the meat like a jellyroll, with the seam on the bottom. Tie roll securely with butcher's twine at 2-inch intervals along its length. Drizzle the surface of the roll with oil and rub with your hands to distribute. Leave meat at room temperature to season for at least 30 minutes. (Alternatively, wrap and refrigerate the roast for several hours or overnight. Return to room temperature before proceeding.)
• Build a fire in a charcoal grill, leaving one side of the grill free of coals. Sear the roast on all sides directly over medium-hot coals. Move the roast off the coals and cook over indirect heat, turning occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer registers 125 degrees for medium-rare meat, about 30 minutes. (To prevent overcooking, begin checking after 20 minutes.) Let rest for at least 15 minutes before removing twine and carving into 1/2-inch slices. For easier slicing, let roast cool to room temperature.

PORK CHOPS WITH HERB PESTO

Steps:

• Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine the water, herbs, oil and garlic; rub over both sides of chops. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour., Moisten a paper towel with cooking oil; using long-handled tongs, lightly coat the grill rack. Grill chops, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 145°. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

SHRIMP AND PENNE WITH SPRING HERB PESTO

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions. In last 3 minutes of cooking, add shrimp and snap peas and cook until shrimp are opaque throughout and peas are bright green. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain pasta mixture and return to pot. Add pesto and toss to coat, adding enough pasta water to create a thin sauce that coats pasta. Top with ricotta. If desired, drizzle with oil and sprinkle with Parmesan.

RACK OF LAMB WITH HERB CRUST AND MINT-BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• For the lamb with herb crust: Place the parsley, olive oil, mustard, rosemary, garlic, lemon zest and juice and a generous amount of salt and pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Puree until the mixture becomes a paste. Spread the mixture all over the lamb (try to avoid the bones and get it all on the meat).
• Place the lamb on a rimmed baking sheet bone-side up, and roast until an internal thermometer reaches 130 degrees F for medium rare, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the lamb to a cutting board, cover loosely with aluminum foil and let rest for about 10 minutes.
• For the mint-basil pesto: While the meat is roasting and resting, place the mint, basil, parsley, lemon juice, honey, garlic and some salt and pepper in a clean food processor bowl. Puree to a paste; scrape down the sides of the food processor once and process again. Transfer to a serving bowl with a small spoon to serve.
• Slice the racks of lamb into either single or double chops. Serve with the pesto passed on the side.

LEMON-GARLIC-HERB CHICKEN WITH GRILLED PROSCIUTTO WRAPPED ASPARAGUS AND PESTO 3 BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high. Fill a small skillet with about 1-inch water and bring to a boil. Grate the garlic onto acutting board and add a couple teaspoons salt, mash into paste with the flat of your knife. Add salt to boiling water and cook green beans 1 minute then drain and cool under cold running water then reserve. Reserve 1/5 of the pasted garlic, about 1 clove and add the rest to a shallow dish. To the garlic, add the lemon zest, fennel seed, chopped thyme, rosemary, parsley and about 1/4 to 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil and some black pepper. Stir with a fork to combine then add chicken pieces and coat evenly. Grill chicken 12 to 15 minutes until juices run clear. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Trim asparagus of tough ends. Add salt and the asparagus to the water and blanch for 2 minutes. Remove from the water and place into an ice water bath to cool. Once cooled, pat dry with paper towels, drizzle with a touch of extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Divide the asparagus into 4 piles and roll 2 layered slices of prosciutto around each pile to form bundles. Grill 7 to 8 minutes until prosciutto is crisp and spears are tender. Place basil and mint leaves in a food processor with the nuts. Add some salt and pepper and turn processor on. Stream in about 1/4 to 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil to form a thick pasty sauce. Transfer the sauce to a bowl. Stir in the reserved garlic paste and the grated cheese. Add the cooled green beans and the canned beans to the bowl and stir to combine. Adjust seasoning. Remove chicken from the grill and squeeze the juice of 1 of the zested lemons down over the meat while still hot. Serve 1 piece each chicken breast and thigh with an asparagus bundle and some bean salad alongside.

LEFTOVER-HERB PESTO

Steps:

• Pulse garlic, nuts, herbs, oil, and Parmesan in a food processor until finely chopped. Season with salt and pepper.

SPAGHETTI WITH PECAN-HERB PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Scatter the pecans on a rimmed sheet pan and toast until they are fragrant and a shade or two darker, 7 to 8 minutes. Cool.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup pasta water.
• Meanwhile, put the pecans in a food processor with the lemon zest, basil, parsley and garlic and pulse six or seven times to make a chunky paste. Scrape down the sides of the work bowl and, with the processor running, add the olive oil in a steady stream to make an almost-smooth pesto.
• Scrape the pesto into a large serving bowl and stir in the cheese. Season with salt. Add the spaghetti and toss, adding the reserved pasta water to loosen, if needed.

THREE-HERB PESTO

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor purée all ingredients with salt and pepper to taste until smooth.Pesto keeps in a jar with a tight-fitting lid, chilled, up to 1 week.
• Let pesto come to room temperature before using. Makes about 1 cup.

HERB GARDEN PESTO

Steps:

• In a mortar and pestle, mashgarlic with salt; pound herbsto a paste, and stir in cheeseand oil. (In a food processor,double the recipe and pulse.)

PIZZA WITH A SUNNY-SIDE-UP EGG AND HERB GARDEN PESTO

Steps:

• Place pizza stone or inverted baking sheet on rack in top third of oven.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Transfer stretched dough to parchment.
• Dot dough with pesto. Scatter with scallion and cheese blend.
• Transfer to oven: Slide parchment ontostone or baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes, then crack 1 egg on top of pizza, season with salt and pepper, and bake until egg sets and yolk isslightly runny, 5 minutes.

RAVIOLI WITH SWEET CRAB AND GREEN HERB PESTO

Steps:

• Sauce:
• Make the pasta dough as directed in the master recipe.
• To make the filling: Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl, stirring to incorporate.
• To make the sauce: Put the herbs in a food processor with the green onions, lemon zest, salt, and pepper; pulse to chop it up a bit. Add about 1/4 cup of olive oil and puree it down until smooth and bright green.
• Coat a wide saute pan with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and place over medium heat. When the oil gets hazy, add the anchovies and mash them up with a wooden spoon so they melt into the oil. Toss in the garlic and stir it around until it just begins to turn golden, not brown. Carefully pour the herb sauce into the anchovy oil, stirring to incorporate. Mix in the heavy cream and season with salt and pepper.
• To make the pasta dough: In an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook*, combine the flour and salt. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to mix. Drizzle in 1 tablespoons of the olive oil and continue to incorporate all the flour until it forms a ball. Sprinkle some flour on work surface, knead and fold the dough until elastic and smooth, this should take about 10 minutes. Brush the surface with the remaining olive oil and wrap the dough in plastic wrap; let rest for about 30 minutes to allow the gluten to relax.
• *Alternatively if you don't have an electric mixer: Combine the flour and salt on a flat work surface; shape into a mound and make a well in the center. Add the eggs and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the well and lightly beat with a fork. Gradually draw in the flour from the inside wall of the well in a circular motion. Use 1 hand for mixing and the other to protect the outer wall. Continue to incorporate all the flour until it forms a ball. Continue as directed above.
• Cut the ball of dough in 1/2, cover and reserve the piece you are not immediately using to prevent it from drying out. Dust the counter and dough with a little flour. Press the dough into a rectangle and roll it through a pasta machine, 2 or 3 times, at widest setting. Pull and stretch the sheet of dough with the palm of your hand as it emerges from the rollers. Reduce the setting and crank the dough through again, 2 or 3 times. Continue tightening until the machine is at the narrowest setting; the dough should be paper-thin, about 1/8-inch thick (you should be able to see your hand through it.). Dust the sheets of dough with flour as needed.
• Beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Dust the counter and sheet of dough with flour, lay out the long sheet of pasta, and brush the top surface with the egg wash, which acts as a glue. Drop tablespoons of your favorite filling on 1/2 of the pasta sheet, about 2-inches apart. Fold the other 1/2 over the filling like a blanket. With an espresso cup or fingers, gently press out air pockets around each mound of filling. Use a sharp knife to cut each pillow into squares and crimp the 4 edges with the tins of a fork to make a tight seal. Dust the ravioli and a sheet pan with cornmeal to prevent the pasta from sticking and lay them out to dry slightly while assembling the rest.
• Cook the ravioli in plenty of boiling salted water for 4 minutes; they'll float to the top when ready, so be careful not to overcrowd the pot. Lift the ravioli from water with a large strainer or slotted spoon. Bathe the ravioli in your favorite sauce to lightly coat and serve.

HERB PESTO

Steps:

• Combine first 6 ingredients in processor. Blend until herbs are finely chopped. Add oil and blend to coarse puree. Season pesto to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to small bowl. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface of pesto and chill.

LINGUINE WITH ZUCCHINI, CARROTS, AND MIXED HERB PESTO

Steps:

• Using a mandoline cut carrots and zucchini into 1/8-inch-thick julienne strips. (Alternatively, using a sharp knife, halve carrots and zucchini crosswise and cut lengthwise into 1/8-inch-wide pieces.)
• In a 6-quart kettle bring 5 quarts salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook 8 minutes, or until barely tender. Add carrots and cook 1 minute. Add zucchini and cook 1 minute. Reserve 2/3 cup cooking water and drain pasta and vegetables.
• In a large bowl stir together pesto and reserved hot cooking water. Add pasta and vegetables and toss well.
• To make mixed herb pesto:
• In a food processor blend together all ingredients with salt and pepper to taste until smooth. Pesto keeps, surface covered with plastic wrap, chilled, 1 week. Makes about 3/4 cup.

SPRING HERB PESTO

Steps:

• In a food processor, process parsley, mint, almonds, and olive oil until smooth.