Pesto is a versatile and flavorful sauce that can elevate any dish, from pizza to pasta to grilled meats. While store-bought pesto can be convenient, nothing beats the fresh, vibrant flavors of homemade pesto. Making your own pesto is easy and allows you to customize the ingredients to suit your preferences.
The key to a delicious pesto is the balance of ingredients. The formula for any kind of pesto includes a large garlic clove, toasted nuts or seeds, packed soft herbs or leafy greens, kosher salt, grated hard cheese, and oil. This basic formula can be customized with different herbs, nuts, cheeses, and oils to create a variety of pesto flavors.
You can make pesto using a mortar and pestle for a more traditional approach, or use a food processor for convenience. Simply combine the garlic, nuts, herbs, cheese, and salt in the food processor, then drizzle in the oil while the processor blends everything together. Experiment with different combinations of herbs, nuts, cheeses, and oils to create unique pesto flavors.
Some favorite pesto variations include parsley with toasted hazelnuts and Grana Padano cheese, kale with toasted walnuts and ricotta salata cheese, cilantro with pepitas and aged Manchego cheese, and arugula with roasted almonds and pecorino Romano cheese. You can also try mustard or turnip greens with toasted pecans and aged cheddar cheese, an equal mix of Thai basil, mint, and cilantro with dry-roasted peanuts and Asiago cheese, or sorrel and dill with pistachios and aged gouda cheese.
Feel free to add a splash of citrus juice or zest, chile flakes, or chili crisp to your pesto for added flavor. As long as you start with fresh herbs or greens, the possibilities for pesto variations are endless. Whether you’re using pesto on pizza, pasta, grilled meats, bruschetta, burgers, hot dogs, or salads, homemade pesto will add a burst of flavor to your dishes. Give homemade pesto a try and experience the difference fresh ingredients can make in your cooking.
