Italian pesto sauce is added to fish, meat, pasta, and vegetables. Its magnificent nutty-cheesy flavor will turn any dish into a culinary masterpiece. Don't run to the store for a jar of pesto, because you can make it yourself in a matter of minutes. We share the recipes!
1. Classic Pesto Sauce
Italians traditionally grind the ingredients for classic pesto with love and care using pestles in heavy marble mortars. You can follow their example, or you can simply blend everything in a blender. Whiz... and a portion of delicious sauce is ready!
You will need: 1 large bunch of green basil, 4 cloves of garlic, 45 g pine nuts and the same amount of Parmesan cheese, 130 ml fragrant olive oil, and salt to taste.
Preparation: Toast the pine nuts in a dry pan until lightly golden, or bake them in the oven. Transfer the pine nuts to a bowl, then add the grated Parmesan, roughly chopped basil, and minced garlic. Mix the contents of the bowl and transfer to a blender. Pour in the olive oil, season with salt to taste, and blend until it forms a sauce.
2. Cilantro Pesto
Experiments in cooking are very useful. Try making pesto sauce by replacing basil with cilantro and pine nuts with pumpkin seeds.
You will need: 1 bunch of cilantro leaves (without stems), 2 cloves of garlic, 50 g shelled pumpkin seeds, 135 ml extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of ground chili pepper, 1 – 1.5 tsp sea salt.
Preparation: Lightly toast the seeds in a dry pan; raw seeds will not give the best flavor to the sauce. In a blender, combine the cooled pumpkin seeds, cilantro leaves, finely chopped garlic, chili pepper, and salt. While blending, gradually add the olive oil.
Homemade Vegan Mayonnaise: 20 Best Recipes
3. "Sunflower" Pesto Sauce
An incredibly delicious pesto sauce can be made from sunflower seeds with fragrant sunflower oil.
You will need: 5 tbsp shelled sunflower seeds, 2 tsp unrefined sunflower oil, 1 clove of garlic, 60 g Gouda cheese, 1 small bunch of purple basil, 110 ml olive oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Preparation: First, prepare the seeds; they should be salted and toasted until golden brown. Blend the cooled sunflower seeds, basil greens, grated cheese and garlic, and spices. Gradually add the vegetable oils.
4. "Sandwich" Pesto
Sandwiches with bean pesto sauce are a delicious and healthy breakfast or snack during a workday at the office!
You will need: 300 g cooked white beans, 120 g fresh basil leaves, 50 ml olive oil, 0.5 head of garlic, 2 tsp balsamic vinegar, 1.5 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, salt and black pepper.
Preparation: Drain the cooled cooked beans, place them in a blender, and add the remaining ingredients. Mix and blend until smooth. Taste the mixture; add more salt if needed. If the sauce is too thick, pour in a couple of tablespoons of bean broth and blend again.
15 Pesto Dishes You'll Definitely Want to Make
5. Wild Garlic Pesto Sauce
Juicy young wild garlic shoots can be used instead of basil. This will only improve the pesto sauce!
You will need: 600 g wild garlic shoots, a handful of walnuts, 5 tbsp grated Parmesan, 0.5 cup extra virgin olive oil, salt to taste.
Preparation: Wash the wild garlic and spread it on clean towels to dry completely. Lightly toast the walnuts in a pan and chop them finely with a knife. Pass the wild garlic and walnuts through a meat grinder with the finest grate twice. Mix with cheese, season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with olive oil. Blend the mixture in a blender, transfer to a clean glass jar, pour 3 tbsp of vegetable oil on top. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
6. "Red Dragon" Pesto
You can adjust the spiciness of "Red Dragon" pesto sauce to your taste!
You will need: 2 large red bell peppers, 70 g toasted sunflower seeds, chili pepper to taste, 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, a sprig of fresh rosemary, 1 tsp sweet paprika, 1.5 tsp unrefined corn oil, and salt.
Preparation: Wash and dry the bell peppers. Place them on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 30-40 minutes until tender. Then quickly transfer the hot peppers to a plastic bag, tie it, and leave for 10-15 minutes. After this, peel off the skin and remove the seeds. Place the red flesh into a blending container, add the remaining ingredients from the recipe, and blend at high speed until a smooth paste is formed.
10 Homemade Cheese Sauce Recipes
7. "Mushroom" Pesto Sauce
Pesto with mushrooms is rarely found in stores, and its price is not affordable for everyone. But at home, you can prepare this wonderful Italian sauce in a matter of minutes and at a low cost!
You will need: 300 g mushrooms, 1 medium onion, 0.5 head of garlic, 5 green onion stalks, 0.5 hot pepper pod, 100 g toasted walnuts, 50 g sun-dried tomatoes, 10 sprigs of parsley, 50 ml olive oil, a little grated Parmesan, and salt.
Preparation: Finely chop the onion, garlic, and green onion stalks and sauté them in the specified order for 2-3 minutes in 1 tbsp of olive oil. Then add the finely chopped mushrooms and tomatoes. Continue cooking over low heat, stirring constantly, for 5-8 minutes. Grind the walnuts into crumbs with a blender, add the parsley and the sautéed mixture from the pan, season with chili pepper, and pour in the remaining oil. Blend at medium speed for about one to two minutes.
8. Broccoli Pesto
This version of pesto sauce was created by healthy eating enthusiasts. Broccoli plays the main role in it, and cottage cheese instead of Parmesan will allow you to save a lot.
You will need: 200 g fresh broccoli, 50 g toasted walnuts, 50 g cottage cheese, 1 clove of garlic, and a little salt to taste.
Preparation: Drop the broccoli into salted boiling water, cook for 6 minutes after it re-boils. Cool it, then place it in a blending container, add the walnuts, garlic, cottage cheese, and salt. Blend until the mixture becomes smooth and uniform.
20 Sauces for Meat to Diversify Your Usual Diet
9. Cashew Pesto
Prepare three portions of this delicious sauce at once, using green, red, and orange bell peppers!
You will need: 4 bell peppers, a handful of cashews, 100 g of any hard cheese, and 3 tbsp olive oil, salt.
Preparation: Roast the peppers in the oven and peel off the seeds and skin. Meanwhile, microwave the cashews for about 3 minutes. A delicious aroma should appear, and the nuts should be lightly browned. Using a blender, finely chop all ingredients in one container. For taste, you can add a little of your favorite spices.
10. Arugula and Spinach Pesto
This sauce will be a great addition to pasta, boiled potatoes, or fish!
You will need: 150 g each of spinach and arugula, 2-3 cloves of garlic, 250 g toasted walnuts, 200 ml vegetable oil, 150 g grated hard cheese, spices.
Preparation: An hour before preparing the sauce, thoroughly wash the spinach and arugula leaves under running water, shake off excess water, and spread them in a thin layer on paper towels. Let them dry completely. Then tear each leaf into 3-5 pieces by hand and place them in a blender, blend for a couple of minutes. Add the walnuts and turn on the device again for 1-2 minutes. Now add the remaining ingredients to the greens and walnuts and blend again until smooth.