Pesto is an Italian sauce made to be used on top of pasta, pizza, appetizers, and sandwiches.
Classic basil pesto is made using basil leaves.
You can make a variety of different types of pesto by substituting or replacing part of the basil leaves with a different type of food.
Classic Basil Pesto
Basil Pesto is made using pine nuts, freshly grated parmesan cheese, minced garlic, and olive oil.
You can add in a bit of lemon juice, salt, and pepper to make the pesto exactly to your desired taste.
- pasta
- flatbread
- sandwiches
- focaccia bread
Tuscan Kale Pesto
Tuscan kale pesto is made by substituting basil leaves for Tuscan kale.
It’s an an earthy pesto that would go well on top of poultry or fish for a seasoning sauce.
- calzone
- sauce for fish or chicken
- pizza sauce
- pasta
Spinach Pesto
Spinach pesto easily comes together using spinach leaves instead of basil leaves. Spinach has an enticing, light flavor to it, making it an easy to go to for making pesto.
You can use spinach pesto as a spread for sandwiches, or dipping vegetables into.
- sauce for fish or chicken
- pizza sauce
- pasta
- eggs
- risotto
- dipping sauce for raw vegetables
Thai Basil Pesto
Thai basil pesto has a spicy, peppery flavor to it, so you don’t need much for it to have a big flavor impact in your dish!
- appetizers
- sandwiches
- bruschetta
Red Pepper Pesto
Red pepper pesto is a savory pesto you can use as a base for pizza or a spread for sandwiches.
Red pepper pesto is made from canned roasted red peppers. You’ll have to dry them out before using them to make pesto.
To make the red pepper pesto, you’ll be using both basil leaves and red peppers to create this invigorating pesto flavor.
- pizza sauce
- bruschetta
- chicken or steak sauce
- dipping sauce
- pasta
Sundried Tomato Pesto
Sundried tomato pesto has a tomato and spicy flavor to it. Sundried tomato pesto uses both basil leaves and sundried tomatoes to create a delicious pesto that works well on top of pasta.
- focaccia bread
- sandwiches
- crostini’s
Cilantro Jalapeno Pesto
Cilantro jalapeno pesto is an earthy, nutty, spicy pesto. You can remove the seeds of the jalapeno have the spice less overwhelming.
- tacos
- baked potato
- pizza sauce
- appetizers
Radish Leaf Pesto
Radish leaf pesto uses radish greens, mint, and basil leaves to create this succulent pesto.
- dipping sauce with pita chips, crackers, or fresh vegetables
- sauce for chicken or fish
- pasta
Avocado Pesto
Avocado pesto is a creamy, thick pesto you can use for making pasta, pasta salad, or as a spread for sandwiches
Avocado pesto is made by adding the flesh of an avocado to a base pesto recipe which includes the basil leaves.
The avocado adds more of a creaminess to the pesto than other varieties.
- pasta
- sandwiches
- dipping sauce with bread
Beat Pesto
Beat pesto uses freshly roasted beats to make the base of the pesto.
Beat pesto has a vibrant pink color, making the dish quite striking and eye catching.
- wraps
- pizza sauce
- sandwiches
- pasta
Arugula Pesto
Arugula pesto has a pepper flavor to it. Arugula and basil leaves are used to make this spicy flavored pesto.
- sauce for roasted vegetables
- dipping sauce for vegetables
- sandwiches
- salad dressing
- pasta or zucchini noodles
Mint Pesto
Mint pesto is an exhilarating flavorful pesto that goes well on top of salads and appetizers.
Mint pesto is made by substituting mint leaves for basil leaves. Mint is a plentiful herb that you can easily grow at home in its own pot. Mint is quite aggressive so you’ll never run out of it!!
- salad
- pasta
- crackers
- bread
- vegetables
- chicken
- eggs
Parsley Pesto
Parsley pesto has both basil leaves and parsley to make this refreshing, earthy pesto. Parsley has a sharp flavor, which adds a ton of flavor to pesto.
- pasta
- sandwiches
- sauce for chicken or fish
Artichoke Pesto
Artichoke pesto is made using parsley and artichokes as the base of the pesto. It’s a bit spicy, with the added chili pepper.
Artichoke pesto is a thick pesto, you can thin it down with a bit of olive oil if you find the flavor too overpowering.
- panini’s
- crostini’s
- sauce for poultry or fish
- pasta
