What do you do with pesto?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

I often see pesto pasta described as a really quick and simple meal, but how do you make it? Do you literally just stir a spoonful of pesto through cooked pasta and call it done? My 1yr old adores pasta so I'm always on the lookout for new pasta meals he can try when we have a meal he can't have.

With pasta, new potatoes, green beans and covered in parmesan and butter.

And on toast. Or spooned straight out of the jug.

I only do home made though. The stuff in jars is rank.

I have to swop the pine nuts for toasted walnuts and sunflower seeds because ds has a dreadful allergy to them.

@spiderlight you have to reassure me: your DH puts it on unsweetened porridge? Doesn't he...?

With pasta is a fav here.
I do a mushroom, chicken and pepperoni mix in the frying pan. When the pasta is done I mix everything together with the pesto. Sometimes add mozzarella while I'm mixing too.

It’s amazing on baked potatoes with feta

I boil kale alongside pasta, fry some pancetta and baby plum tomatoes (and fresh chilli if you like), mix all together with pesto, add chunks of feta and a squeeze of lemon. Delicious and virtuous

Toasted sandwiches with mozzarella and pesto - so good!

@spiderlight is your DH in fact related to my FIL? He eats cheese and syrup sandwiches, and would probably eat pesto on porridge if I put it in front of him.

In other news, I spread pesto all over puff pastry, douse in a generous amount of Parmesan, roll up, cut into slices and cook until golden brown. Delicious

good with any greens too, just stir it in and watch your bottom expand. My kids love it. There are also a lot of varieties, shop bought and recipes! Wild garlic pesto is yum if you can forage for it, walnut pesto. Make it if you can get your hands on quantities of good basil. Incredibly versatile.

My toddler loves pesto pasta. Good cold
for picnics too.
I get the puff pastry sheets and spread a thin layer of pesto on one half and usually the other half with tomato passata, sprinkle cheese, chopped olives, onion, tomatoes, peppers, and cook in the oven to make little baby pizzas, just cut them in to fingers and you can freeze them up for snacks. DD loves them. Or you can roll them up in to pin wheels!

@Orangesox just seen you do the same with pastry!

@Sabich - yes, unsweetened. He's not a complete monster!! Still, though - bleurgh!

pesto on porridge? I love pesto, but that's made me feel a bit funny. I suppose pesto/chese/oatcakes though...

Pesto spread onto sliced ciabatta then topped with avocado, roasted peppers and mozzarella and grilled until the mozzarella melts.

I stir fry chicken, onions, peppers and mushrooms, add hot pasta, stir in half and half pesto and half fat creme fraiche. Mmmm

Or have it with fresh tortellini.

Pesto pasta salad - cold pasta, pesto, pinenuts, cucumber, chopped up tomato, spinach.

Or another good one instead is Philly Pasta - cook pasta, drain, chuck in a handful of frozen peas and some smoked ham and empty half a pack of cream cheese (the Basics one is perfectly adequate) in, stir to melt it. Also works with goats' cheese and some rocket leaves.

A friend of mine swears it's delicious mixed through scrambled eggs.

@Trendy I can see that working, I like fresh basil with scrambled eggs and tomatoes, can’t be that different?

When I was pregnant I liked it with banana in a sandwich. It doesn't seem to have the same attraction for me now.

I like doing pasta with half pesto and half philadephia - makes it more creamy and less salty. Then I chuck veg in - brocolli, cherry toms, and peppers is my favourite combination.

Delicious stirred through roasted vegetables once they’re cooked.

It must be either fresh or preferably homemade pesto though. Jarred pesto is revolting.

To answer your question yes. You can also add tomatoes, cheese, tuna, whatever really.

Sometimes I spread it thickly onto salmon or chicken before cooking in the oven.

In toasted sandwiches if you are my ds. Whatever else is in it-always pesto.

This recipe is nice

www.hellmanns.com/ca/en/recipes/pesto-pasta-salad.html

My dc loves it with sausage.

Shop bought pesto is always grim but so nice when made fresh! Trofie with potatoes and beans is really nice: www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/pasta/trofie-pasta-liguria-pasta-with-pesto-potatoes-and-green-beans