50 Pesto Recipes

You can make soup, salad and many other healthy and tasty dishes with pesto sauce.

4. Pizza with pesto. Cut the baguette in half lengthwise and brush it with a layer of pesto. Top with slices of capicola, sprinkle with coarsely grated mozzarella and finely grated Parmesan. Bake until the cheese is melted.


5. Italian sandwich. Spread the pesto and mayonnaise mixture on a piece of toasted bread and top with the toasted pancetta, tomatoes and arugula.

6. Pesto fritters. Combine 1 cup ricotta, 1 cup shredded spinach, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, 1/2 cup pesto, and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; set aside for 30 minutes. Deep-fry 1 tablespoon of the mixture in vegetable oil at 350°F (180°C) until golden brown, 4 minutes. Serve with marinara sauce.


7. Pesto with butter. Combine 0.75 cups pesto with 4 tablespoons room temperature butter.


8. Corn with pesto. Grill or steam the corn, then brush it with pesto butter (as per step 7). Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.

9. Sweet potato with pesto. Bake the sweet potato at 425°F (220°C) until tender, 40 minutes. Cut into quarters lengthwise and brush with pesto butter (as per step 7).


10. Tortellini in cream with pesto. Pour 1 cup of heavy cream into a skillet, add 0.25 cups of pesto, and simmer over low heat until slightly thickened. Stir in 0.25 cup of grated Parmesan. Add 350 g of cooked tortellini and 2 cups of steamed broccoli.

11. Pasta with ricotta and broccoli. Toss 1 pound of cooked orecchiette with 1/2 cup pesto, 1/2 cup ricotta, and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan. Add 1 bunch of chopped and steamed broccolini.


12. Gnocchi baked with pesto. In a baking dish, toss 450 g of cooked gnocchi with 3 tbsp of pesto and 1 tbsp of room-temperature butter. Sprinkle with finely grated pecorino and bake until golden brown.

13. Pasta with tuna and white beans. In a skillet, sauté 1 sliced ​​garlic clove in 3 tablespoons olive oil for 1 minute. Stir in 0.25 teaspoon ground red pepper. Add 1 can of drained tuna, 1 can of white beans, and 0.25 cup pesto. Add a few torn basil leaves and toss with 12 ounces (350 grams) of cooked spaghetti.

14. Primavera salad with pesto. Toss 12 oz (350 g) of cooked gemelli or penne with 4 cups of steamed and sliced ​​vegetables, 1 cup of diced mozzarella, 1/4 cup of pesto, and 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan. Top with toasted flaked almonds.

15. Pasta with potatoes and pesto. Cook 170g of cavatelli and 170g of peeled and sliced ​​russet potatoes in boiling water for 8-9 minutes. Drain the water into another bowl and toss the cooked ingredients with 0.25 cups of pesto and some of the drained water.

16. Pasta with squid and pesto. Prepare the pasta with potatoes and pesto (according to the recipe in step 15). In a frying pan, sauté 450 g of squid in olive oil for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the pasta.

17. Mussels with pesto. In a saucepan, sauté 4 sliced ​​garlic cloves in olive oil until golden, 2 minutes. Add 2 pounds (900 grams) mussels and 1 cup (1 cup) white wine; cover and cook until the shells open, about 4 minutes. Stir in 3 tablespoons (1 tablespoon) pesto.


18. Linguine with clams and pesto. Prepare the pesto mussels (as per step 17), using clams instead of mussels. Add 0.5 teaspoon of ground red pepper. Toss with the cooked linguine.

19. Green beans with pesto. Combine 450g of steamed green beans with 3 tbsp of pesto and the juice of 0.5 lemon.

20. Peas with pancetta and pesto. In a skillet, fry 110 g (4 oz) of diced pancetta until crisp; use a slotted spoon to transfer the pancetta to another bowl. Add 1 package of frozen green peas and 1 cup of water to the skillet; simmer until tender, 10 minutes. Stir in 3 tablespoons of pesto and pancetta and reheat.


21. Orzo and pesto with peas. Prepare the peas with pancetta and pesto (according to the recipe in step 20). Stir in 1.5 cups of cooked orzo pasta and 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan.

22. Potato salad with pesto. Boil 900 g (2 lb) new potatoes, cut into quarters, in salted boiling water until tender, 10-15 minutes; drain and let cool slightly. Whisk 1 cup mayonnaise with 3 tablespoons pesto and the juice of 1 lemon; toss with the potatoes and 1 cup diced celery.

We recommend 23. Chicken salad with pesto. Whisk 3 tablespoons pesto with 0.25 cups mayonnaise and 0.25 cups sour cream. Stir in 4 cups chopped cooked chicken, 0.5 cups chopped celery, and 0.25 cups each chopped red onion, walnuts, and fried bacon.

24. Egg salad with pesto. Whisk together 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons pesto, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Add 8 chopped hard-boiled eggs, 1 cup chopped celery, and 2 tablespoons chopped red onion.

25. Tuna salad with pesto. Combine 2 cans of drained tuna, 1 can of drained chickpeas, 1/2 cup each chopped parsley, red onion, and roasted bell pepper, 3 tablespoons pesto, and 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar.

26. Succotash with pesto. Add 1 tablespoon butter to a skillet and sauté 5 cups corn, 1 cup chopped cherry tomatoes, and 1/2 cup chopped red onion until softened, 5 minutes. Add 2 cups cooked lima beans and 1/2 cup heavy cream; heat through and stir in 2 tablespoons pesto.

27. Lemon and pesto dipping sauce. Whisk 1/2 cup sour cream with 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup Parmesan, 1/2 cup pesto, 2 tablespoons capers, 2 teaspoons lemon zest, and 2 teaspoons lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.

28. Hummus with pesto. Mix 1 cup hummus with 2 tablespoons pesto. Garnish with chopped mint, toasted pine nuts, and a pinch of paprika.

29. Croutons with pesto. Combine 4 cups cubed bread, 3 tablespoons pesto, and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Spread on a baking sheet; bake for 20 minutes at 180°C.

30. Panzanella with pesto. Toss pesto croutons (from step 29) with 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 3 tablespoons olive oil, chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and more pesto.


31. Pesto salad. Whisk together 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar and 1/2 cup pesto. Toss with microgreens and serve with baguette toasts topped with goat cheese.


32. Caesar salad with pesto. Whisk 2 cups pesto with 1/2 cup Caesar salad dressing. Toss with romaine lettuce and croutons; top with thinly sliced ​​Parmesan.

33. Quesadilla with pesto. Sauté 1/2 cup each of chopped green onions, mushrooms, and zucchini, adding pesto, chopped jalapeño, and cilantro. Toast a wheat tortilla in butter in a skillet; top with the vegetables, grated Muenster, and a second tortilla. Flip and toast.

34. Fried cheese with pesto. Using a pastry brush, spread the pesto on two slices of country bread, top one with slices of cheddar or provolone, and top with the other slice. Brush the outside of the sandwich with butter and toast in a skillet over medium heat until golden brown.

35. Tomato soup with pesto. In a saucepan with butter, sauté 1/4 cup chopped shallots with fresh thyme. Add 1 large can of tomato puree, 1 1/2 cups water, and 1/2 cup heavy cream; simmer for 20 minutes. Puree the mixture, then stir in 3 tablespoons pesto.


36. Steak with pesto. Combine 1/2 cup pesto, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, and 1 tablespoon hot water. Grill or broil a 12-ounce skirt steak; brush the pesto over the finished steak using a pastry brush.

37. Frittata with pesto. In an ovenproof skillet, sauté 1 grated zucchini in butter. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped parsley and 2 tablespoons each pesto and grated Parmesan. Add 6 beaten eggs and cook until set, 3 minutes. Bake in the oven at 350°F (180°C) until completely set, 15 minutes.


38. Roasted Chicken with Pesto. Mix 1 cup milk and 0.5 cups pesto; add 1600 g of chicken pieces, stir, and leave to marinate for 30 minutes. Dredge the chicken in 3 cups of flour mixed with 1 teaspoon of paprika, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Heat vegetable oil to 180 °C and fry the chicken for 12-15 minutes.

39. Chicken wings with pesto. Marinate 900 g of chicken wings in a mixture of 0.5 cup pesto, 0.25 cup apple cider vinegar, 0.25 cup hot sauce, and 0.25 cup honey. Bake at 220 °C (425 °F) for 40 minutes. Toss with chopped basil and mint.

40. Lamb kebabs with pesto. Thread 450 g (16 oz) of lamb, cut into square pieces, with red onion onto skewers. Brush with a mixture of 0.25 cups of pesto and 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar. Marinate for 1 hour, then grill the kebabs.

41. Salmon cutlets with pesto. Prepare 1 lb (450 g) of salmon and flake the cooked fillet into small pieces using a fork. Mix the fish with 1 cup of panko, 1/2 cup of pesto, 1 egg, and 1 tablespoon of lemon zest. Form into patties and fry them in a frying pan with butter for 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve with tartar sauce mixed with pesto.

42. Swordfish with pesto. Mix 0.25 cups pesto with the juice of 1 lemon and 1 tablespoon hot water. Pour over grilled or fried swordfish.


43. Shrimp with pesto. Marinate 450 g of shrimp in a mixture of 2 tbsp. pesto and 2 tbsp. olive oil; add 1 lemon, cut into wedges, and 0.5 tsp. ground red pepper. Fry for 3 minutes on each side. Season with salt.

44. Roasted chicken with pesto. Combine the juice of 1 lemon, 1/3 cup pesto, and 1 teaspoon ground red pepper; rub into a 2700g (8 lb) chicken. Stuff with garlic and lemon. Bake in the oven at 190°C (350°F) for 2 hours.


45. Chicken with kupaty and pesto. Peel the kupaty and mix with 0.25 cups pesto, 1 chopped shallot, 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs, and 2 tablespoons grated pecorino. Place the filling under the skin of 4 bone-in chicken breasts. Bake in the oven at 190°C for about 45 minutes.

46. ​​Beans with pesto. In a skillet with olive oil, sauté 5 sliced ​​garlic cloves with a pinch of ground red pepper. Add 2 cans of drained white beans and 1 cup water; simmer until thickened, 8 minutes. Stir in 3 tablespoons pesto and 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan.


47. Bean soup with pesto. Prepare the Pesto Beans (according to the recipe in step 46). Add 3 cups of chicken broth and 1 cup of chopped celery; simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup of chopped olives and 1/2 cup of roasted peppers.

48. Mashed potatoes with pesto. Boil 1400 g of russet potatoes until soft. Mash with 1 cup of milk, 0.5 cup of grated Parmesan, 0.25 cup of olive oil, and 3 tablespoons of pesto.

49. Cornbread with pesto. Make bread using 8 oz (240 g) of cornbread mix according to package directions, adding 3 tbsp of pesto to the dough.

50. Pesto French Fries. Whisk 1/3 cup mayonnaise with 2 tablespoons pesto, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Serve with fries.







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