Have You Ever Made Your Own Pesto?

Have You Made Pesto?

April 26, 2010

Lately, I have been making my own pesto. I started with a traditional basil pesto and then experimented with spinach instead of basil and sunflower seeds in place of pine nuts (stay tuned for the recipe!). Pestos are incredibly simple to make and great to have on hand to add to pastas, salads, and meat dishes. What is your take on them?

27 Comments

la ragazza piccola 3 years 2 weeks

I love Pesto. It's so simple but so good at the same time.

3 years 3 weeks

YUUUM!!!! that looks so good. wait, why are so many ppl substituting other nuts for the pine nuts? they're quintessential! I guess I can't knock it til i try it though :) i'm sure they're still delicious. for ppl who have made pesto with other nuts-- would you say the taste is changed at all? for better or for worse? good call on the whole wheat noodles, moonielein.

Gdeeaz 3 years 3 weeks

Yes I make it a few times a month. I love pesto but the ones in the store are way too oily. I also like to experiment with the ingredients.

sourcherries 3 years 3 weeks

I've only made it once because I had some fresh basil and...well, it just tasted kinda bland. It always looks so yummy, too.

Akasha 3 years 3 weeks

Being allergic to tomatoes I have to substitute a lot when making Italian. I love making my own pesto for pasta and even better for my homemade pizza's. Pesto with a bunch of garlic, cheese, and pepperoni is the best pizza.

danakscully64 3 years 3 weeks

I think "Yes, all the time" is a little strong of a statement. Yes, I've made it a few times, but not every time. I've made a sun dried tomato version before, yum yum!

orangek8 3 years 3 weeks

I like to grow a ton of fresh basil every summer, and then make a TON of pesto. I do parmesan, basil and walnuts. Then I freeze them in little baggies and eat it all winter long!

GummiBears 3 years 3 weeks

Nope. Never made a batch. I am so incredibly lazy when it comes to making pasta sauces. I don't know why.

hyzenthlay20 3 years 3 weeks

Last summer while visiting my parents, my mom and I got 2 pounds of fresh basil from the community garden and made pesto. We froze it into bags with a couple of servings each and split the bags. I still have 1 bag left and it's INCREDIBLE stuff! We've already decided to make 3 or 4 pounds next summer when I visit!

Dana18 3 years 3 weeks

I made pesto just last night. I used slivered almonds instead of pine nuts.

3 years 3 weeks

I made pesto just today, actually. I am convinced that using a mortar and pestle makes the flavours more intense. I use walnuts with basil, lots of garlic and olive oil. I coarsely grate the cheese separately. Whole wheat pasta with that pesto and really good freshly grated aged pecorino. Irresistible! I am so stinky now though.

limelindsey 3 years 3 weeks

I'm not a huge fan, really. I think it kind of gets overplayed, and after eating it in pretty much every potluck that I went to for two years, I got sick of it. If I'm going to eat it, I'll buy some.

Spectra 3 years 3 weeks

I don't love it, so I don't actually make it very often. I've made it a couple of times, but I prefer marinara.

RoaringSilence 3 years 3 weeks

I always have too much basil around, so I make this often.

fuzzles 3 years 3 weeks

Oh, yes! Set me in front of a bowl of fresh pesto, toss me a hunk of crusty bread to tear apart, and you'll have one happy gal!

jdscottie 3 years 3 weeks

I buy it, but I will try to make my own if everyone thinks it tastes better.

kurniakasih 3 years 3 weeks

Oh I love pesto and I can eat a whole jar by myself (not exaggerating) and on a daily basis too. So yes, I've been making them myself (thanks magic bullet). I have bought pesto before too, but making them yourself tastes better, imho, since you get to dictate which ingredients you want more or less.

kurniakasih 3 years 3 weeks

hanmeng 3 years 3 weeks

Have You Made Pesto? "Yes, when I can get fresh basil. I rarely experiment, though."Mine only tastes good the day I make it. I refrigerate what I don't eat, and it doesn't taste nearly as good. The only store-bought pesto I ever ate was pretty pathetic.

hanmeng 3 years 3 weeks

Have You Made Pesto? "Yes, when I can get fresh basil. I rarely experiment, though." Mine only tastes good the day I make it. I refrigerate what I don't eat, and it doesn't taste nearly as good. The only store-bought pesto I ever ate was pretty pathetic.

stellaRuby 3 years 3 weeks

I make pesto early in the summer and freeze it in ice cube trays. It is great on nights when my husband works late and doesn't want to cook. We boil some pasta and defrost the petso cubes and it makes a great easy dinner.

LeslieLaFleur 3 years 3 weeks

I've never made pesto, but I'm intrigued by the spinach and sunflower seed idea. I can't wait to try it

courtneyd 3 years 3 weeks

I don't eat a lot of pesto, but when I do, I make it. I usually only have pine nuts on hand if I'm using them for something particular, so for an impromptu pesto I'm more likely to use walnuts with herbs & cheese.

asesh001 3 years 3 weeks

I make a cilantro and parsley pesto with parmesan cheese and pecans that's a huge hit with my friends!

POPSUGAR Pets 3 years 3 weeks

I prefer making pesto over buying it because then I can adjust the ratios/recipe as I see fit— Many store-bought ones are way too oily to me and I love adding extra cheese to mine!

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27 Comments

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