pesto
Pesto is a vibrant, uncooked sauce originating from Genoa, Italy, typically made by crushing fresh basil leaves with garlic, pine nuts, coarse salt, hard cheese like Parmigiano-Reggiano, and extra virgin olive oil. The mental image is of a bright green, textured paste that smells intensely of fresh herbs and garlic. It is a very popular, versatile condiment used primarily for coating pasta, but also as a spread on sandwiches, a topping for grilled meats, or a base for salad dressings. Because it is heat-sensitive and relies on the raw, pungent quality of basil and garlic, it is usually stirred into warm dishes just before serving rather than being cooked directly in a pan.
In conversation
Dinner plans
Do you want to make pasta tonight?
Do you want to make pasta tonight?
Sure, let's just use that jar of pesto in the pantry.
Sure, let's just use that jar of pesto in the pantry.
Pesto is often used as a quick, flavorful meal solution.
Cooking class
Make sure you don't over-process the basil, or the pesto will turn brown.
Make sure you don't over-process the basil, or the pesto will turn brown.
Got it, I'll keep the texture a bit chunky.
Got it, I'll keep the texture a bit chunky.
Pesto's quality is often judged by its bright green color.
Examples
I put some pesto on my toast.
I put some pesto on my toast.
The chef tossed the hot linguine with a generous spoonful of homemade pesto.
The chef tossed the hot linguine with a generous spoonful of homemade pesto.
While traditional pesto uses pine nuts, many modern variations substitute them with walnuts or sunflower seeds.
While traditional pesto uses pine nuts, many modern variations substitute them with walnuts or sunflower seeds.
