We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, Trendy Mami may collect a share of sales or other compensations from the links on this page.
–
Pesto is a long-time staple food for any traditional Italian household. A sauce originating in Genoa, it typically consists of pine nuts, salt, basil leaves, and hard cheese. It’s loved by kids and adults alike, so if you’re looking for a savory, traditional Italian style dish to make, check out these three delicious pesto recipe ideas we’ve cooked up. But before you get started, keep in mind some tips:
- Mortar and Pestle: Instead of a food processor you can use a mortar and pestle, following the same process. This will take more time but is worth it.
- Cheese: Traditional pesto wants different cheeses depending on the taste you’re getting. For a sweeter pesto, you need to use only parmesan, and for a stronger pesto taste, you may add some pecorino cheese.
- Washing Leaves: Be gentle when you wash the fresh leaves. It’s best if you don’t break them to avoid the oxidation of the leaves. Use a colander to wash them and lay all of the leaves on a towel, and gently pat dry them with another towel.
- Salt: We suggest not adding the salt to the pesto sauce, so you can better adjust the taste later since it can result in a too intense taste at times.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Pesto freezes well. Freeze in ice cube trays, and then store frozen pesto cubes in plastic freezer bags in the freezer for up to 6 months. Pesto may also be frozen in small jars or plastic containers for up to 9-12 months.
1. Traditional Style Pesto Recipe
What You’ll Need:
2 cups (50gr) Basil Leaves (washed and dried)
¼ cups (50gr) Pine Nuts
1 clove Garlic
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (adjust on the taste)
½ cup (50gr) Parmesan cheese grated
A Food Processor
Directions:
- In the food processor add the garlic and the pine nuts and a spoon of olive oil, process until the mix is minced well
- Add the basil leaves and continue to process
- Add some olive oil if necessary to make it creamy
- Use the spatula to move the mixture from the sides to the center of the food processor
- Then, add the parmesan and finish to process until it’s smooth
- (Add additional olive oil if necessary)
- To finish, remove the blade and drip in some olive oil, mesh well
- It’s ready to serve!
Pair this with any of your favorite pasta dishes or traditional-style Italian meals. For a vegan version of our pesto recipe, follow below:
2. Vegan Style Pesto Recipe
What You’ll Need:
A Silicone Spatula
2 cups (50gr) Basil Leaves (washed and dried)
¼ cups (50gr) Pine Nuts
1 Clove Garlic
E.v.o. Oil (adjust on the taste)
¼ cup (30gr) Walnuts
A Food Processor
Directions:
- In the food processor add the garlic and the pine nuts and a spoon of olive oil, process the mixture
- Add the basil leaves and continue to process
- Add some olive oil if necessary to make it creamy
- Use the spatula to move the mixture from the sides to the center of the food processor
- Then, add the walnuts and the olive oil, and process until it is smooth
For a crunchier pesto, process the walnuts less to create added texture.
Now it’s ready to serve!
If you’re looking for a pesto recipe that is a bit less traditional, try out our Red Pesto below:
3. Red Pesto Recipe
What You’ll Need:
2 cups (120gr) Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Oil
¼ cup (30gr) Almonds
1 Clove Garlic
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (adjust on the taste)
½ cup (50gr) Parmesan cheese grated
A Food Processor
Directions:
- In the food processor add the garlic, the sun-dried tomatoes, and the parmesan, process the mixture until is well smooth
- Add some olive oil if necessary to make it creamy
- Use the spatula to move the mixture from the sides to the center of the food processor
- Then, add the almonds and process
- Now, add some olive oil, adjusting to your taste
- Mix and serve
And that’s it! Serve any of these on your favorite dishes to bring a boost of flavor to your meal!
Looking for more DIY food tutorials? Look no further! Here at Trendy Mami, we’re very fond of creating dishes that anyone can make. This gluten-free gnocchi recipe is one of our favorites and will be yours too! Want something sweet instead? Check out this gooey lava cake recipe!
