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Presto! Enjoy These Unique, Homemade Pesto Recipes

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Pesto is a very popular sauce or cooking additive that originated in Genoa of the Liguria region of Northern Italy. The word for pesto in Italian is pestare, which means to pound or crush. Traditional pesto recipes were made from basil, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, and cheeses by using a mortar and pestle. However, most varieties are created in a food processor today. The history of pesto has also been mentioned in Pesto Genovese: an Ageless Benchmark of Great Italian Cuisine that cites the ancient Romans consumed a paste called moretum, prepared by crushing cheese, garlic, and various herbs together. So, it’s no coincidence that the words pesto and paste are very similar!

pesto recipes


Because the term pesto is a generic word for anything that is made by pounding or crushing, this means that the original pesto sauce recipe is flexible with the many differing ways to prepare this Italian sauce. If you’ve got a food processor that’s ready to go, then presto! You’ll have some amazing and very unique pesto recipes to try with an assortment of different dishes. But, if you're craving the savory flavors of a fresh pesto, without the work, we also carry a delicious line of authentico Alta Cucina Pestos:

Artichoke Lemon   6.5oz    $10.15
Sundried Tomato   6.5oz    $11.99
Green Olive                7.5oz    $10.50


Give the following pesto recipes below a try and share your creations on social media with us!

pesto recipes Recipe via Greatist

Classic Pesto


3 cups                   Fresh basil, packed
1/2 cup                 Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 cup                 Pine nuts
2                              Garlic cloves, chopped
1/2                          Lemon, juiced
1/4 tsp.                 Salt
1/3 cup                 Extra-virgin olive oil

Meal Ideas: Mix with mayo for a zesty sandwich spread; stir into cooked quinoa; spoon onto steak tacos

 

pesto recipes Recipe via Greatist

Beet Pesto


1 lb.                         Beets, peeled and roasted
1/2 cup                 Parmesan cheese, grated
1/3 cup                 Walnuts
2                               Garlic cloves, chopped
1/2                           Lemon, juiced
1/4 tsp.                 Red chili flakes
1/4 tsp.                  Salt
1/4 cup                 Walnut oil

Meal Ideas: Stir into pasta and top with fresh arugula, goat cheese, and black pepper; spread over grilled salmon

 

pesto recipes Recipe via Greatist

Arugula-Mint Pesto


3 cups                   Arugula, packed
1/2 cup                 Fresh mint, packed
1/2 cup                 Pecorino cheese, grated
1/4 cup                 Hemp seeds
2                             Garlic cloves, chopped
1/2                         Lemon, juiced
1/4 tsp.                Salt
1/3 cup                 Extra-virgin olive oil

Meal Ideas: Spread over burgers; add dollops as a garnish for pureed soups

 

pesto recipes Recipe via Greatist

Carrot-Cilantro Pesto


2 cups                   Leafy carrot tops, chopped
1 cup                     Fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 cup                Asiago cheese, grated
1/3 cup                Almonds
2                              Garlic cloves, chopped
2 tbsp.                  White wine vinegar
1/4 tsp.                 Salt
1/3 cup                Almond oil

Meal Ideas: Stir into hummus or a batch of roasted vegetables; dollop over grain bowls

pesto recipes Recipe via Greatist

Kale-Parsley Pesto


6 cups                   Fresh kale, packed
1 cup                      Fresh parsley, packed
1/2 cup                 Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 cup                 Pumpkin seeds
2                               Garlic cloves, chopped
2 tbsp.                   Apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp.                  Salt
1/3 cup                 Extra-virgin olive oil

Meal Ideas: Stir into scrambled eggs or frittatas; spread over flatbread pizza; mix into zucchini noodles

pesto recipes Recipe via Greatist

Spinach-Pistachio Pesto


4 cups                   Spinach, packed
1/2 cup                 Gruyére cheese, grated
1/3 cup                 Unsalted pistachios, shelled
2                               Garlic cloves, chopped
1/2                           Lemon, juiced
1/4 tsp.                  Salt
1/3 cup                 Avocado oil

Meal Ideas: Drape over grilled fish; Thin with additional oil and lemon juice for a salad dressing

pesto recipes Recipe via Greatist

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto


1 cup                     Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained
1 cup                     Fresh basil, packed
1/3 cup                Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 cup                Pine nuts
2                              Garlic cloves
2 tbsp.                  Red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp.                 Salt
1/4 cup                 Extra-virgin olive oil

Meal Ideas: Stir into cornbread batter; use in pasta dishes; blend with navy beans and additional oil for a dip

 

Directions for All Pesto Recipes:


Place base ingredient and add-ins in a food processor. Pulse ingredients into a coarse mixture, scraping sides as needed. While pulsing, slowly drizzle oil in until well combined and pesto looks uniform. Feel free to substitute different oils based on what’s in your pantry, though generally olive and nut oils work best for pesto. Taste and adjust seasonings as you like, and presto! Enjoy your fresh, homemade pesto.