Pesto is an easy sauce to make and can be used in many delicious ways.
Pesto is very easy to make with a food processor and so much better than store bought. A great way to serve pasta is with pesto. Toss with freshly cooked pasta, stir in some chicken or sautéed seafood and you have an instant, delicious dinner. Pesto is made with olive oil so it is healthy as well.
Pesto is traditionally a paste made from basil, garlic, pine nuts and olive oil. There are many varieties and pesto can be made with any herbs you like: parsley, cilantro, mint to name a few. I also like to keep a basic basil pesto around for an instant pasta sauce. The basil will turn black and fresh pesto can't be stored long in the refrigerator, but you can freeze it. It's best eaten fresh, but by freezing, I can have my homemade pesto available anytime all year round.
Tips for freezing: Try putting your pesto in an ice-cube tray and freezing. Once frozen, transfer to a air-tight freezer bag for storage. Your individual pesto cubes are perfect to top soups. You can also store the pesto in pre-measured amounts in freezer bags and thaw for a quick sauce for pasta.
Hint: Never microwave pesto - it destroys the flavor. Instead thaw in refrigerator or place the frozen bag in hot water. Cook your pasta then stir the pesto into the hot pasta, add a little pasta water as needed and serve.
Easy Pesto Recipe...
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