Pesto!

Caterina

And if you liked the jar stuff, try the fresh version:

Bunch of basil leaves, 100g pine nuts (can also use sunflower seeds if you find pine nuts too expensive, or not find them at all), some olive oil (to thin it out), 2-4 garlic cloves (depending on how garlicky you like it), 100g grated pecorino cheese (can also use parmesan or grana, but pecorino much nicer, can be bought in Sainsbury).

Chuck the lot into a food processor and whizz till it is a nice smooth green paste.

To serve it, as it is much thicker than the jar ones, you put it in the bottom of a serving dish and dilute it with a little bit of the cooking water of the pasta, then when pasta is cooked, throw it on top and mix thoroughly. If you are not watching your weight, a nice chunk of butter in the whole mix is absolutely divine!

Buon appetito

Caterina

Pink.

Hi candy,

There's an older thread on using up pesto (not all vegetarian) but I've added your thread to it to keep all the suggestions together.

Pink

hollydays

OH has decided he doesnt like pesto(even Aldis really nice ones).I have half a jar of plain and half a jar of it with parsley and ginger.What Could i add it to?

sallyrsm

Do you like it and do you ever eat when he's not there??
It can be an acquired taste if all you've done with it is stir it into pasta. I tend to use a tsp in lasagne and spag bol, or spread it thinly onto puff pastry strips, twist them and put them in the oven, pesto straws...
Do a roll-up bread thingy flatten out bread dough roll it up bake it and slice, with some cheese and tomato and stuff makes a nice filling lunch or with tomato soup... you can do pesto crusted fish steak with breadcrumbs and pesto mixed, on your cod (or pollock or whatever) bake in the oven with cherry tomatoes... (tomatoes go VVVVV well with the basil)
basically you will always get that Basily taste but you can really tone it down. I love basil so that isn't a problem for me. never heard of the Ginger one, sorry..!!

Maxjessdru

Pesto is really good in mashed potato and even better in mashed potato on top of fish pie (really!). I tried it once as part of a low-fat recipe and its absolutely deelish - you only need to stir in a teaspoon but it tastes great

Farway

Whatever you do, do not make pesto bread rolls or you will finish up like a house end, they are sooo moreish [and calorie laden]

http://ayearinbread.earthandhearth.com/2007/06/beth-pesto-rolls.html

HariboJunkie

I put pesto in large mushrroms. add grated cheese (preferably mozarella) and grill.

zippychick

just about to have pesto for the first time. Putting in with fried bacon chicken garic and onion. plus some fresh cream and pasta wish me luck! im winging it :j

zippychick

Caterina, im going to atteempt your pesto! Wish me luck:j:j:j

using parmesan as i cant get peccerino ,, hmmm wonder do i use the same amount?

Femme456

never used it before but going to have a try in a bit.......do I just mix a bit with some pasta?? Serve with Garlic bread?