Basil pesto

A sauce of crushed basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, and olive oil. Jarred pesto is a fast way to flavor pasta, sandwiches, and roasted vegetables.

Used for

  • pasta
  • sandwiches
  • pizza
  • roasted vegetables
  • dressings

In the kitchen

  • toss
  • spread
  • thin
  • stir

Picking it at the store

  • Refrigerated tubs taste fresher than shelf-stable jars
  • Stir pesto into hot pasta off the heat; cooking it dulls the basil and turns it bitter

Related terms

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