Readers ask: How To Use Basil Pesto Sauce?

How do you use Pesto Sauce in a jar?

You can eat pesto straight from the jar, but Gremaud prefers to use it to heighten the flavor of pasta dishes, meats or even fresh bread. “I love to use pesto as a topping for many dishes,” he explains. “It’s very versatile.” Creamy pesto pasta is the simplest way to use the condiment to make a meal.

How do I use store bought basil pesto?

The Most Important Rule of Cooking With Pesto: Don’t Cook It

1. Step 1: Boil pasta until al dente.
2. Step 2: Transfer pasta to a mixing or serving bowl.
3. Step 3: Add pesto.
4. Step 4: Add pasta water bit by bit, mixing to bind and emulsify the oil-based sauce.
5. Step 5: Eat.

What can I do with pesto Besides pasta?

10 Ways to Go Beyond Pasta with Pesto

1. Mix It into Dips. We’ll mix a little pesto in with sour cream, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or even guacamole!
2. Top Your Breakfast.
3. Replace Pizza Sauce.
4. Bake into Bread.
5. Spread on a Sandwich or Flatbread.
6. Mix into Salad Dressing.
7. Toss (or Top) Veggies.
8. Smear on Bruschetta.

Do you heat basil Pesto Sauce?

PESTO SHOULD NEVER BE “COOKED”. If you cook Pesto Sauce, you change the make up of the fresh basil and cause it to turn darker in color. It is best to warm it up and use it at room temperature. If it needs to be thinned out, you can do so by adding a little water, chicken stock, cream or white wine.

How much pesto should you add to pasta?

Ingredients

1. 500g pack spaghetti, fresh or dried.
2. 2-3 tbsp pesto from a jar, or see tip below to make your own.
3. 50g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), shaved or grated.

Do I need to cook pesto from a jar?

Do you heat up pesto sauce? Pesto should not be heated, because heat causes the basil to oxidize and turn brown. Instead, let the heat of the pasta (or whatever you mixing the sauce with) warm it up.

Should pesto be refrigerated?

After you open it, it needs to be stored in a refrigerator. As far as homemade pesto goes, it should always be kept sealed tightly in a fridge. If you want to preserve its top quality for a few more days, add olive oil on top of it before sealing back the container and refrigerating.

How long does pesto last in the refrigerator?

Pesto that was sold unrefrigerated will keep for about 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge after opening, assuming continuous refrigeration. To further extend the shelf life of opened pesto, freeze it: to freeze pesto, place inside covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. How long does pesto last in the freezer?

Can I freeze pesto?

You can absolutely freeze homemade pesto! After a couple hours the pesto cubes will be frozen, pop them out and store them in a freezer safe bag. You can keep the cubes in the freezer for up to 6 months. Pull out the delicious homemade pesto 1, 2, or 8 cubes at a time to add to your recipes.

What flavors pair with pesto?

Garlic. Along with olive oil, basil is often paired with garlic to make pesto.

Is pesto good for weight loss?

Traditional pesto sauce, with its combination of olive oil, pine nuts, fresh basil, garlic and Parmesan cheese, is a healthy addition to any diet. While it is rather high in calories and fat, pesto offers a wealth of nutrients and a punch of flavour that many other sauces lack.

How do I make store bought pesto better?

How to Improve Taste of Store-Bought Pesto

1. Add More Basil Leaves. You can add more basil leaves to pesto to freshen its flavor.
2. Add More Garlic.
3. Add Roasted Garlic.
4. Add More Pine Nuts.
5. Add Bacon.
6. Add Blue Cheese.
7. Add Roasted Bell Peppers.
8. Add Roasted Tomatoes.

How do you eat pesto?

Creative Ways to Use Pesto

1. Stir a Scoop Into Soup. Add a burst of flavor to your soup by stirring in a scoop of pesto after the soup has been taken off the heat and before serving.
2. Spread on Bread.
3. Use as a Veggie Dip.
4. Elevate Roasted Veggies.
5. Stir Into Mashed Potatoes.
6. Make Pesto Butter.
7. Stuff Chicken Breast.
8. Enjoy with Eggs.

Can I microwave pesto?

This is how to reheat pesto pasta in the microwave: Place the amount of pesto pasta to be reheated in a microwave-safe bowl. Drizzle some extra water or pesto on the top of the pasta to keep it separated and moist. Cover the dish with a damp paper towel and heat it at medium heat for up to 1 ½ minutes.

Do you need to add anything to pesto sauce?

Salt the water – Pesto usually isn’t (and should not be) seasoned enough such that you don’t need to add any other salt once tossed through pasta. The best way to season Pesto Pasta is to salt the water. DO NOT REHEAT leftover pesto pasta!