What is pesto made of?
Classic pesto, pesto alla genovese, is made of fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino cheese, olive oil and salt.
Pesto comes from Genoa, in the Liguria region of northwest Italy. The name comes from the Italian pestare, meaning to pound or crush, because it is traditionally made with a marble mortar and wooden pestle. Basil leaves are crushed with garlic, salt and pine nuts, then grated cheese and olive oil are mixed in.
In Liguria, pesto is often served with local pasta shapes such as trofie or trenette, sometimes with potatoes and green beans cooked in the same pot. It is also stirred into minestrone soup and spread on bread, pizza and sandwiches.
Variations
Many versions use other ingredients. Pesto rosso, from Sicily, adds sun-dried tomatoes and almonds. Some cooks use walnuts or cashews instead of expensive pine nuts, or swap basil for spinach, kale or arugula. Many brands sell ready-made pesto in jars.
Did You Know?
Genoa hosts a Pesto World Championship, where competitors make pesto by hand with a mortar and pestle.