Genovese Pesto Sauce Recipes

GIADA'S CLASSIC PESTO

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, pulse the basil, pine nuts, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper until finely chopped. With the blender still running, gradually add enough oil to form a smooth and thick consistency. Transfer the pesto to a medium bowl and stir in the cheese. Season the pesto with more salt and pepper to taste.
• The pesto can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.

PESTO GENOVESE | AUTHENTIC ITALIAN BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Wash and dry the basil leaves very well on a kitchen towel. Place them in a food processor with garlic, pine nuts and grated Parmigiano. Chop coarsely for a few seconds then add salt and Pecorino Fiore Sardo cheese cut into small pieces. Blend all the ingredients for about 1 minute.
• Add extra virgin olive oil. Blend for about 5 minutes, until you'll get a creamy green pesto sauce. Pesto must not heat up, so be careful to work quickly, using the food processor at minimum speed and at intervals, that is, blend a few seconds, stop and start again.
• Before seasoning your pasta dish, if the basil pesto is too thick, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of the cooking water; this way you'll have a warm homogeneous soft pesto sauce.

PESTO GENOVESE (AUTHENTIC ITALIAN BASIL PESTO)

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.

GENOVESE BASIL PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Toast pine nuts by heating a small pan. Add pine nuts to the dry pan and let them warm through for 1-2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let them cool.
• Wash your basil and set it out on a paper towel to collect the excess water. Remove the leaves from the stems by pinching the stems just below the leaf clusters. (This way you will be left with nice, unblemished leaves and very little stem.)
• Measure the basil leaves and place them in the food processor. Add peeled garlic cloves, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• Blend the basil with other ingredients using the pulse button on the food processor. Scrape down the bowl, and continue to blend until the pesto is evenly chopped and mixed.
• Serve this pesto over pasta for a light summer dinner.

GENOVESE SAUCE - LA GENOVESE NAPOLETANA

Steps:

• Prepare all the vegetables (see notes on cutting the onions) and sprinkle the beef with salt and pepper.
• Add the olive oil to a large pot on a medium-low heat and add the onions, carrot and celery. Saute the onions for 10 minutes then add the beef, bay and parsley.
• Let the beef brown on all sides, you'll need to stir the mixture around slightly so the beef touches the bottom of the pot.
• Cover the pot and let it slowly cook for 3 hours stirring every now and then to make sure it doesn't stick.
• After 3 hours remove the lid and add the white wine. Continue to simmer the ragu on a medium-low heat for another hour.
• Once done taste and add more salt to taste then toss with cooked and drained pasta of choice.

PESTO ALLA GENOVESE

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the basil, salt, and pepper and process for a few seconds until the basil is chopped. Add the cheese, pine nuts, and garlic and, while the processor is running, add the oil in a thin, steady stream until a mostly smooth sauce is formed. Transfer pesto to a bowl and set aside. (Note: Pesto may be made 1 day in advance and kept, refrigerated, in an airtight container, until ready to use. If making in advance, be sure to cover the top of the pesto with a thin layer of olive oil to prevent the pesto from darkening. Pesto may also be frozen in the same manner in small quantities for use at a later date.)
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook, according to package directions, until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid. In a large bowl, toss pasta with pesto. Add a little of the reserved cooking liquid if pasta seems to dry. Serve immediately.

GENOVESE PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a food processor, pound the garlic, basil, pinch salt, pine nuts and cheeses into a paste. Gradually blend in olive oil; adjust seasoning.

PASTA ALLA GENOVESE

Steps:

• Put the prepared potato chunks into a large saucepan with enough salted water to take the pasta later, and bring to the boil. Cook the potatoes until tender, about 20 minutes, then add the pasta. Check the packet cooking instructions, and at about 4 minutes before the end of the specified cooking time, add the green beans. If you are using artisanal egg linguine, which takes less time, you will need to alter your strategy. While this is bubbling away, whiz the ingredients for the pesto in a food processor. Before you drain the saucepan, remove and reserve about ½ cupful of the cooking liquid. Tip the drained potatoes, beans and pasta back into the dry pan. Add the pesto from the processor and enough cooking water to give a runny sauce that coats the strands of pasta as you work it through with a fork or pasta claw. Serve immediately.