Pestosauce Recipes

BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.
• If freezing, transfer to an air-tight container and drizzle remaining oil over the top. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and stir in cheese.

PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a small frying pan over a low heat. Cook the pine nuts until golden, shaking occasionally. Put into a food processor with the remaining ingredients and process until smooth, then season.
• Pour the pesto into a jar and cover with a little extra oil, then seal and store in the fridge. It will keep in a fridge for up to two weeks.

BASIC PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Pulse pine nuts in a food processor until they're completely broken down. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula from time to time. Add olive oil and garlic and pulse until garlic is finely chopped.
• Chop basil very roughly - just run a knife through it once or twice to cut most of the leaves into halves or thirds - then add to food processor. Pulse, stopping every 15 seconds to push the leaves down with a rubber spatula, until basil is entirely worked into the oil. Pulse for another few seconds, and then stop to prevent turning the basil brown.
• Pour pesto base into a bowl and add grated cheese and salt. Stir to combine, then taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Leave the sauce thick to toss with cooked pasta and a little pasta cooking water. To use the pesto as a garnish for grilled or roasted meats, fish and vegetables, thin it out with 2 to 3 more tablespoons olive oil until it's the consistency of a loose paste. To store leftovers, pour a little more olive oil over the pesto to cover. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three days.

PESTO

Steps:

• Combine basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and nuts in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Blend to a smooth paste. Add parsley if desired.

QUICK & SIMPLE PESTO (CLASSIC PESTO RECIPE) SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in blender or food processor & cover.
• Blend on medium speed about 3 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape sides, until smooth.

PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the first five ingredients in a small food processor; pulse until chopped. Continue processing while gradually adding oil in a steady stream. Add cheese; pulse just until blended. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months.

PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a food processor, blend together basil leaves, nuts, garlic, and cheese. Pour in oil slowly while still mixing. Stir in salt and pepper.

PESTO SAUCE (FOR PIZZA ESPECIALLY)

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender.
• Puree until the mixture forms a smooth, thick paste.
• Topping ideas for pesto pizza: Sliced crimini mushrooms.
• Reconstituted sun-dried tomatoes.
• Sliced black olives.
• Shaved Parmesan cheese.

PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• While preparing other ingredients, toast pine nuts in a 350ºF oven on a cookie sheet.
• This only takes a couple of minutes--as soon as you can smell the nuts toasting, remove them from the oven.
• They should be very lightly browned, but not dark.
• Meanwhile, remove stems from parsley and basil, and remove hearts from garlic.
• Put all ingredients except olive oil in a food processor, and process for about 30 seconds, or until everything is very finely chopped.
• Add olive oil in a steady stream until desired thickness.
• Thicker pesto is better for sandwiches or spreading, while thinner works well for pasta or marinating chicken or shrimp.
• The sauce is now ready for use!
• I like to marinate chicken in 1/2 the pesto for a few hours, reserving the remainder for pasta--just bake 1 1/4 lb marinated chicken strips in a 400º oven for 10 minutes, and toss with cooked mostocholi noodles that have been tossed with the remaining pesto.
• This is also lovely with shrimp.