Pesto

Pesto recipes have been around for centuries, with the earliest known recipes dating back to the 13th century. The name “pesto” comes from the Italian word for “to pound,” which is how the sauce was traditionally made. In the early days, pesto was simply a mixture of crushed garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese.

As the recipe evolved, other ingredients were added, such as pine nuts, basil, and mint. Today, there are countless variations of pesto, with each region of Italy having its own unique take on the sauce.

While pesto is commonly associated with pasta, it can be used in a variety of dishes, such as on pizza, in soups, or as a dip. No matter how you enjoy it, there’s no doubt that pesto is a delicious and versatile sauce with a long and rich history.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Spicy Red Pesto Pasta

  • lemon zest
  • salt
  • basil
  • rigatoni
  • red pepper flake
  • parmesan cheese
  • walnut
  • red pepper
  • oil tomato
  • olive oil
  • tomato paste
  • garlic
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Basil Pesto

  • salt
  • pecorino cheese
  • pine nut
  • basil
  • garlic
  • olive oil
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Basil Pesto

  • salt
  • trofie
  • garlic
  • pecorino romano cheese
  • olive oil
  • pine nut
  • basil
  • parmesan cheese
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Pesto Pasta With White Beans and Halloumi

  • ARUGULA (ROCKET) PESTO
  • pine nut
  • salt
  • parsley
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • arugula
  • PASTA
  • salt
  • thyme
  • block halloumi
  • green serrano chile
  • olive oil
  • lemon juice
  • cannellini bean
  • trofie pasta
  • chicken
  • garlic
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Basil Pesto

  • olive oil
  • pine nut
  • basil
  • garlic
  • hard cheese
  • salt
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Parsley Pesto

  • pepper
  • salt
  • mint
  • olive oil
  • parsley
  • garlic
  • parmesan cheese
  /public/love-and-lemons-logo.png

Basil Pesto

  • garlic
  • pine nut
  • olive oil
  • parmesan cheese
  • salt
  • basil
  • lemon juice
  • black pepper
  /public/food-logo.svg

Chicken Pesto

  • bread crumb
  • mushroom
  • pesto sauce
  • provolone cheese
  • chicken breast
  /public/bonappetit-logo.svg

White Pesto Pasta

  • black pepper
  • salt
  • lemon zest
  • garlic
  • tube
  • walnut
  • olive oil
  • parmesan cheese
  • oregano
  • ricotta cheese
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Vegan Pesto

  • pine nut
  • basil
  • black pepper
  • nutritional yeast
  • oil
  • salt
  • garlic
  /public/food-logo.svg

Basil Pesto

  • basil
  • parmesan cheese
  • pine nut
  • lemon juice
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Broccoli Pesto

  • pepper
  • salt
  • basil
  • parmesan cheese
  • broccoli
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Creamy Ramp Pesto Pasta

  • pink peppercorn
  • salt
  • zest
  • fusilli lunghi
  • ramp
  • parmesan cheese
  • olive oil
  • pistachio
  • bufala ricotta
  /public/bonappetit-logo.svg

Red Pesto Pasta

  • spaghetti
  • walnut
  • salt
  • butter
  • red fresno chile
  • parmesan cheese
  • tomato paste
  • lemon juice
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • oil anchovy
  /public/savor-the-best-logo.webp

Basil Pesto

  • parmesan cheese
  • salt
  • pine nut
  • olive oil
  • basil
  • garlic
  /public/love-and-lemons-logo.png

Easy Pesto Pasta

  • basil pesto
  • pine nut
  • arugula
  • spaghetti
  • olive oil
  • lemon juice
  • vegan parmesan
  • red pepper flake
  • salt
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Basil Pesto

  • black pepper
  • salt
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • basil
  • parmesan cheese
  • pine nut
  /public/love-and-lemons-logo.png

Radish Greens Pesto

  • basil
  • radish green
  • garlic
  • pine nut
  • parmesan cheese
  • salt
  • olive oil
  • lemon juice
  • black pepper
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

"Blanched" Basil Pesto

  • parmesan cheese
  • italian parsley
  • pine nut
  • garlic
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • powdered ascorbic acid
  • basil
  /public/love-and-lemons-logo.png

Vegan Pesto

  • garlic
  • pine nut
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • basil
  • lemon juice
  • black pepper
  • nutritional yeast
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Pesto Meatballs

  • egg
  • onion
  • butter
  • olive oil
  • ground beef
  • salt
  • parmesan cheese
  • black pepper
  • garlic
  • pesto
  /public/love-and-lemons-logo.png

Broccoli Pesto

  • lemon zest
  • broccoli floret
  • basil
  • salt
  • olive oil
  • parmesan cheese
  • lemon juice
  • pine nut
  • garlic
  • pasta
  • vegan parmesan
  • black pepper
  • red pepper flake
  /public/love-and-lemons-logo.png

Basil 101: Pesto

  • garlic
  • pine nut
  • olive oil
  • parmesan cheese
  • salt
  • basil
  • lemon juice
  • black pepper
  /public/love-and-lemons-logo.png

Kale Pesto

  • garlic
  • olive oil
  • pepita
  • parmesan cheese
  • lemon juice
  • kale
  • black pepper
  • salt
  /public/recipe-tin-eats-logo.svg

Pesto

  • garlic
  • parmesan cheese
  • salt
  • pine nut
  • black pepper
  • basil
  • olive oil
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Basil Pesto

  • black pepper
  • salt
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • basil
  • parmesan cheese
  • pine nut
  /public/love-and-lemons-logo.png

Pesto Pizza

  • mozzarella cheese
  • basil pesto
  • cornmeal
  • basil
  • pizza dough
  • red pepper flake
  • cherry tomato
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Cheapo Pea Pesto

  • lemon juice
  • salt
  • crostini
  • green pea
  • garlic
  • domestic parmesan
  • olive oil
  • walnut
  /public/half-baked-harvest-logo.svg

Charred Tomato and Corn Pesto Pasta.

  • basil vinaigrette
  • angel hair pasta
  • garlic
  • olive oil
  • red pepper flake
  • herb
  • basil
  • cherry tomato
  • olive oil
  • red wine vinegar
  • garlic
  • ears corn
  • zucchini
  • burrata
  • salt
  • salt
  • basil
  /public/love-and-lemons-logo.png

Arugula Pesto

  • garlic
  • cashew
  • olive oil
  • arugula
  • lemon juice
  • water
  • black pepper
  • salt
  /public/immaculate-bites-logo.svg

Chicken Pesto Pasta

  • half
  • thyme
  • italian seasoning
  • olive oil
  • onion
  • parmesan cheese
  • pesto
  • penne pasta
  • pepper flake
  • butter
  • chicken breast
  • chicken broth
  • all purpose flour
  • garlic
  • basil
  • salt
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Broccoli Pesto Pizza

  • cooking spray
  • salt
  • basil
  • cornmeal
  • tomato
  • parmesan cheese
  • red pepper flake
  • broccoli
  • goat cheese
  • olive oil
  • wheat pizza dough

Ingredient Breakdown

 
salt
olive oil
garlic
parmesan cheese
basil
pine nut
black pepper
lemon juice
walnut
red pepper flake
pesto
broccoli
butter
chicken breast
mozzarella cheese
basil pesto
lemon
lemon zest
parsley
arugula
cherry tomato
pecorino romano cheese
pepper
water
spaghetti
pizza dough
onion
sunflower seed
pasta
red pepper
thyme
chicken
spinach
avocado
pistachio
bread crumb
pesto sauce
provolone cheese
nutritional yeast
honey
cornmeal
feta
penne pasta
cashew
tomato
garlic scape
mint
oil tomato
tomato paste
pecorino cheese
pepita
tuscan kale
kale
pecan
vegan parmesan
collard green
vegetable oil
kalamata olife
all purpose flour
zucchini
half
rigatoni
trofie
block halloumi
green serrano chile
cannellini bean
trofie pasta
hard cheese
rennet parmesan cheese
fusilli
farro pasta
mushroom
tube
oregano
ricotta cheese
oil
plum tomato
pink peppercorn
zest
fusilli lunghi
ramp
bufala ricotta
opal basil
thai basil
red fresno chile
oil anchovy
orecchiette
radish green
egg yolk
smoked salmon
italian parsley
powdered ascorbic acid
egg
ground beef
quantity pesto
pasta water
panko breadcrumb
paprika
almond
apple cider vinegar
green garlic
peanut
linguine
broccoli floret
wheat
vegetable broth
nutmeg
pizza crust
artichoke
pea
bucatini
crostini
green pea
domestic parmesan
petite green pea
ham
yeast
cheddar cheese
salami
blue cheese
balsamic reduction
sage
marinated artichokes heart
nut
meatball
alfredo sauce
bell pepper
milk
rice
basil vinaigrette
angel hair pasta
herb
red wine vinegar
ears corn
burrata
carrot
italian seasoning
pepper flake
chicken broth
tripoline
ricotta salata
sesame seed
green
pumpkin seed
wheat spaghetti
gluten spaghetti
roasting chicken
orange
cooking spray
goat cheese
wheat pizza dough
brown sugar
rosemary
soy sauce
balsamic vinegar
peach
hellman

Insights

Staple Ingredients

  • olive oil 49%
  • salt 46%
  • garlic 45%

Common Ingredients

  • basil 35%
  • parmesan cheese 33%

Usual Ingredients

  • black pepper 22%
  • pine nut 22%
  • lemon juice 20%

Rarey Ingredients

  • walnut 8%
  • 6%
  • red pepper flake 5%