This delicious pasta sauce is almost a symbol of Genoa, the Ligurian city where it originated. Simple and with just a few ingredients, it is an excellent condiment for the warmer months. And it’s not just for pasta; here in Italy you can even get pesto pizza! Try it as a risotto or on chicken, meat, cooked fresh green beans, a tomato salad.
Pesto alla Genovese
A fresh, light pasta sauce perfect for a hot summer day or all year round, and delicious on many different dishes!
Tips
The secret to making the perfect pesto is to chop and blend the ingredients by hand. Avoid using a blender or food processor, as they heat the ingredients and make the basil bitter. Use an old-fashioned mortar and pestle which keeps the flavors more distinctive and the basil sweeter.Ingredients
- 1 large bunch of fresh basil leaves (about 2 cups)
- 3 cloves garlic, pressed
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, extra virgin
- 1/3 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
Directions
- Clean basil leaves by wiping with a clean damp cloth or paper towel. Only wash if worried about pesticides, and then dry thoroughly.
- Chop pine nuts finely. (For this you can use a blender.)
- Finely mince basil leaves.
- Mix basil, garlic, and pine nuts together and blend lightly using mortar and pestle.
- Place in a bowl and mix well with cheese, olive oil, and salt until ingredients form a loose ball. 6.Serve immediately by mixing well with pasta cooked al dente.
Storage
Keeps for 1 day following these instructions: Mix all ingredients except olive oil. Form into a ball, flatten, and place in a small bowl. Pour olive oil on top; refrigerate. Blend all ingredients before mixing with pasta.🍷 Suggested wine:
Pasta with pesto is a light dish, best served with white wine. Vermentino grapes grow in both Sardinia and Liguria. I follow the old adage “if it grows together, it goes together,” so I recommend Ligurian Vermentino. This light, dry white wine with its fruity undertones is the perfect accompaniment to pesto!
🥂 Cin-cin and buon appetito!
Images: Fettuccine | Spaghetti.
Signora Sheila 