Best 11 Traditional Pesto Recipes
Pesto is a flavorful and versatile sauce that can be used to create a variety of delicious dishes. It is traditionally made with basil, olive oil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and garlic, and its bright green color and nutty flavor make it a popular choice for pasta, pizza, and sandwiches. With its origins in the Liguria region of Italy, pesto has become a beloved culinary staple around the world. In this article, we will explore the traditional recipe for pesto, including its key ingredients and step-by-step instructions, providing you with the knowledge and confidence to create this classic sauce in your own kitchen.
Here are our top 11 tried and tested recipes!
PESTO GENOVESE (AUTHENTIC ITALIAN BASIL PESTO)
An authentic Genoese pesto. It's straight from Italy and you won't find a better recipe! This calls for a spoonful of pecorino cheese, but you could also use all Parmesan in a pinch. To store in fridge for up to 1 month: place pesto in a jar, cover with olive oil, and top with a lid.
Provided by MadameDanielaMoscaToba
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes Pasta Sauce Recipes
Time 20m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Crush garlic using a mortar and pestle. Add pine nuts; crush with the garlic. Add basil leaves gradually, making circular movements with the pestle, until a smooth paste forms.
- Mix Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and pecorino Romano cheese using a wooden spoon. Stir in olive oil until pesto is blended.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 224.9 calories, Carbohydrate 1.4 g, Cholesterol 7.8 mg, Fat 22.6 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 4.3 g, SaturatedFat 4.3 g, Sodium 125.1 mg, Sugar 0.2 g
BASIL PESTO RECIPE
Pesto Sauce is so easy to make and homemade pesto tastes way better than storebought. This Basil Pesto recipe is fantastic with pasta, chicken, or sandwiches.
Provided by Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Categories Easy
Time 10m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Wash and dry the basil leaves.
- Place basil into a food processor, add cheese, nuts, garlic cloves, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Process until smooth.
- Season with more salt to taste if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 205 kcal, Carbohydrate 2 g, Protein 3 g, Fat 21 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Cholesterol 8 mg, Sodium 290 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, ServingSize 1 serving
CLASSIC PESTO
This versatile pesto boasts a perfect basil flavor. Pair it with pasta and you've got a classic Italian dinner. -Iola Egle, Bella Vista, Arkansas
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 10m
Yield 1 cup.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Place the basil, cheese, garlic and salt in a food processor; cover and pulse until chopped. Add nuts; cover and process until blended. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Store in an airtight container in the freezer up to 1 year.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 196 calories, Fat 19g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 4mg cholesterol, Sodium 152mg sodium, Carbohydrate 3g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 5g protein.
CLASSIC PESTO
Sweet-and-spicy basil is the main ingredient in pesto. For an appetizer, spread pesto over toasted or grilled slices of baguette.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Healthy Recipes Gluten-Free Recipes
Yield Makes 1 cup
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread nuts on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven until golden and fragrant, tossing once, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from baking sheet to prevent further browning. Let cool completely. In a food processor, combine nuts, basil, cheese, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Process until finely chopped. With machine running, pour oil in a steady stream through the feed tube; process until smooth.
QUICK & SIMPLE PESTO (CLASSIC PESTO RECIPE) SAUCE
This is a pretty easy recipe for a classic pesto sauce. It can be served with pasta for "Pasta & Pesto" or spread on toasted Italian bread or on sandwiches and salads... You can blend it into bread or muffin mix. You can make Pesto Pizza. You can even add heavy cream if you desire a "creamy pesto sauce". The key is to use only FRESH BASIL. Note: Pine nuts are AKA Pignoli Nuts
Provided by BlondieItaliana
Categories Spreads
Time 10m
Yield 1 1/4 cups
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Combine all ingredients in blender or food processor & cover.
- Blend on medium speed about 3 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape sides, until smooth.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1628.5, Fat 166.2, SaturatedFat 29.7, Cholesterol 52.8, Sodium 927.3, Carbohydrate 12, Fiber 3.4, Sugar 2, Protein 31.6
CLASSIC PESTO
Some say using a blender rather than a food processor results in a smoother puree. When combining pesto with pasta, Ligurians mix a small ladle of the cooking water into the pesto just before adding the noodles; this dilutes the concentrated sauce and helps it adhere to the pasta.
Provided by Bon Appétit Test Kitchen
Categories Condiment/Spread Sauce No-Cook Low Carb Parmesan Basil Pine Nut Summer Bon Appétit
Yield Makes about 1 cup
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Combine first 4 ingredients in blender. Blend until paste forms, stopping often to push down basil. Add both cheeses and salt; blend until smooth. Transfer to small bowl. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Top with 1/2 inch olive oil and chill.)
BASIC PESTO
Pesto is a mouthful of bright summer - basil made more so. You can buy it in a jar or in the refrigerator section of your grocery story, but there is nothing better than making it yourself. Fresh basil can be found in abundance at farmers' markets in the summer. Just clean, take the stems off and throw the leaves in a food processor with nuts and garlic. Dribble in the oil and you've got a versatile sauce for pasta, chicken or fish.
Provided by Florence Fabricant
Categories easy, quick, condiments, editors' pick
Time 15m
Yield 2 cups
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Combine basil leaves, pine nuts or walnuts and garlic in a food processor and process until very finely minced.
- With the machine running slowly dribble in the oil and process until the mixture is smooth.
- Add the cheese and process very briefly, just long enough to combine. Store in refrigerator or freezer.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 82, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 1 gram, Fat 8 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 49 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams
EASY PESTO
Use pine nuts or walnuts for this classic pasta sauce.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Quick & Easy Recipes
Time 20m
Yield Makes 1 1/4 cups
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread 1/2 cup pine nuts or walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven until golden and fragrant, tossing occasionally, 5 to 8 minutes. Let cool completely.
- In a food processor, combine toasted nuts, 4 cups loosely packed fresh basil or parsley leaves, 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, and 1 garlic clove; season with salt and pepper. Process until finely chopped. With machine running, pour 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil in a steady stream through the feed tube; process until smooth.
CLASSIC PESTO
Whizz up delicious homemade pesto in under 15 minutes using just five ingredients. This herby Italian-style sauce is great stirred through pasta for a quick meal
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Condiment, Dinner, Lunch, Main course, Pasta
Time 15m
Yield Makes 250ml
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Heat a small frying pan over a low heat. Cook the pine nuts until golden, shaking occasionally. Put into a food processor with the basil, parmesan, olive oil and garlic cloves. Whizz until smooth, then season to taste.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 88 calories, Fat 9 grams fat, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, Fiber 0.1 grams fiber, Protein 1 grams protein, Sodium 0.04 milligram of sodium
PESTO
Basic pesto, made with basil, olive oil, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese. This recipe differs from the classic preparation by the addition of parsley. You can add a little extra Parmesan to the mixture if you like.
Provided by ANDERVAL
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes
Time 5m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Combine basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and nuts in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Blend to a smooth paste. Add parsley if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 91.5 calories, Carbohydrate 1 g, Cholesterol 3.3 mg, Fat 9 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 2.3 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 59.1 mg, Sugar 0.1 g
EASY PESTO
Blend together pine nuts or cashews, basil, parmesan, garlic and olive oil to make your own pesto. It's perfect for pizzas, pasta and sandwiches
Provided by Paul Ainsworth
Categories Condiment
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Toast the nuts in a pan over a low heat. Tip into a mini chopper with the remaining ingredients, or use a large pestle and mortar, then blitz or pound into a rough sauce. Will keep for three days in the fridge.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 188 calories, Fat 19 grams fat, SaturatedFat 3 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 1 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 0.3 grams sugar, Fiber 0.2 grams fiber, Protein 4 grams protein, Sodium 1 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Use fresh basil. Fresh basil has the best flavor and will give your pesto the most authentic taste. If you can't find fresh basil, you can use dried basil, but it won't be as flavorful.
- Don't over-process the pesto. Over-processing the pesto will make it bitter. Pulse the ingredients in a food processor or blender until they are just combined.
- Use a good quality olive oil. The quality of the olive oil you use will affect the flavor of your pesto. Use a fruity, extra-virgin olive oil for the best results.
- Add nuts or seeds for extra flavor and texture. Nuts and seeds can add a nice crunch and extra flavor to your pesto. Some popular options include pine nuts, walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds.
- Season the pesto to taste. Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You may also want to add a squeeze of lemon juice or a bit of grated Parmesan cheese.
- Use pesto as a condiment or sauce. Pesto can be used as a condiment for sandwiches, wraps, and salads. It can also be used as a sauce for pasta, chicken, or fish.
Conclusion:
Pesto is a versatile and flavorful sauce that can be used in a variety of dishes. It's easy to make and can be customized to your own taste preferences. With a few simple ingredients, you can create a delicious pesto that will add a pop of flavor to your next meal.
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