Presto! Enjoy These Unique, Homemade Pesto Recipes
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!
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:
Give the following pesto recipes below a try and share your creations on social media with us!
Recipe via Greatist
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
Recipe via Greatist
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
Recipe via Greatist
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
Recipe via Greatist
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
Recipe via Greatist
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
Recipe via Greatist
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
Recipe via Greatist
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
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.
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!
Recipe via GreatistClassic 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
Recipe via GreatistBeet 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
Recipe via GreatistArugula-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
Recipe via GreatistCarrot-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
Recipe via GreatistKale-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
Recipe via GreatistSpinach-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
Recipe via GreatistSun-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.