Fresh pesto can be used to create mesmerizing appetizers to wow your guests!
Pesto is a savory sauce that works well to create chef worthy appetizers like bruschetta, twisted cheese bread, flatbread, baked brie and more!
Pesto Bread Appetizer
Pesto bread appetizer is a cheese bread that you can pull apart, or cut and serve in sections.
Pesto bread appetizer is a twisted bread in the shape of a circle. It’s an appetizer that catches your eye because it looks quite unique, yet it’s easy to make.
Pesto bread made by creating a dough, and then filling it with fresh pesto and parmesan cheese.
It’s best served warm right out of the oven.
Pesto Sundried Tomato Baked Brie
Baked brie is a classic appetizer your guests will love!
Add more flavor to it by covering the brie in fresh pesto and sundried tomatoes.
Bake it in the oven until the cheese has completely melted through.
Serve with fresh bread or crackers for dipping.
Pesto Flatbread
Pesto flatbread is made by using pesto as the pizza sauce.
Slices of mozzarella cheese and sundried tomatoes are arranged over the flatbread and then it’s baked in the oven.
After the flatbread comes out of the oven, more fresh pesto is spooned onto the flatbread. This gives the flatbread more of a burst of pesto flavor for this savory appetizer.
Caprese Pesto Crostini
Caprese pesto crostini’s are made by marinating cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella with dried basil leaves and olive oil.
Once you’ve made your crostini’s and they have cooled, fresh pesto is spread on the crostini.
Mozzarella slices and cherry tomatoes are placed on top of the layer of pesto.
Finally, the pesto appetizer is topped with freshly chopped basil leaves, parmesan cheese, and balsamic glaze.
Tomato Pesto Bruschetta
Make a fresh batch of pesto, the flavor is much more powerful and fragrant than store bought.
Dice a tomato with a little bit of onion. Mix the pesto together with the tomatoes and onions.
Spoon the tomato pesto mixture on top of fresh baguette rounds and grate parmesan cheese on top. Toast for a couple of minutes for the cheese to warm up.
Pesto Pinwheels
Pesto pinwheels are made using puff pastry.
The puff pastry dough is rolled out, and then covered in pesto and parmesan cheese.
The dough is rolled up, and then cut into small round pieces and baked in the oven.
You can serve the pinwheels warm for a tasty pesto appetizer your guests will love!
Pesto Tortellini Skewers
Pesto tortellini skewers are made by cooking tortellini, and covering it pesto.
The tortellini is cooled, and then put onto skewers, alternating with sundried tomatoes.
Pesto tortellini skewers work well as a cold appetizer for a summer BBQ.
You can make this pesto appetizer ahead of time, and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
Beef Tenderloin Crostini with Pesto
Beef tenderloin crostini with pesto is made by cooking beef tenderloin and slicing it into thin pieces for your crostini.
The crostini has a layer of whipped goat cheese and cream cheese mixed together, along with red pepper flakes and olive oil.
The goat cheese layer is spread on the crostini, and then the beef tenderloin can be folded on top.
Pesto is spooned on top of the crostini, and can be served right away.
Pesto Hummus
Pesto hummus is a great dipping appetizer.
You can dip pita bread, tortilla chips, or raw vegetables into it for an easy pesto appetizer.
Pesto hummus is made by blending together chick peas, tahini sesame paste, olive oil, pesto, minced garlic, lemon juice and salt.
Pesto hummus can be made ahead of time, and refrigerated until you’re ready to serve it.
Seared Scallops with Pesto
Seared scallops with pesto is made by searing scallops with a bit of olive oil.
Heavy cream is warmed, and then is added to pesto and whisked together. The creamy pesto sauce is poured over the freshly seared scallops.
Garnish with lemon zest and parsley. Serve immediately.
