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Original poster

What can I do with pesto?

49 replies

Shutupanddrive · 28/02/2012 17:22

Apart from stirring it into pasta or putting on pizza?
Never bought it before, got green one and stirred into pasta with Parmesan on top. Was just wondering what else I could do with it please?
Also is red one or any others worth buying? I saw rocket one too

OP posts:
Grockle · 28/02/2012 17:23

I prefer red.

We use it in soup sometimes or put it on toast/ in toasties. DS loves pesto.

G0ldenbrown · 28/02/2012 17:25

I've been known to stuff a chicken breast with pesto and a bit of cheese. Lush

JustGettingByMum · 28/02/2012 17:29

Spread on chicken and wrap with parma ham/bacon - delicious!

A teaspoon spread on salmon before grilling.

Stir into a tomato based risotto

cookielove · 28/02/2012 17:33

I love the red pepper one, not the tomato one. I have it on toast. It is heaven.

Original poster
Shutupanddrive · 28/02/2012 17:35

Thanks for replies, keep them coming please!
Will have to try the red one then too, I love peppers so should like that Grin

OP posts:
MsWeatherwax · 28/02/2012 17:44

Pasta bake. Roux sauce made with water (melted butter/flour, slowly add water) with pesto and tomato puree in and stir/heat until it bubbles. Add to pasta, with grilled chopped up bacon if you are a meat eater. Put in a big oven dish, with grated cheese on the top and bake about 20 minutes.

FoofFighter · 28/02/2012 17:47

I quite often use it in mayo and spread on sandwiches/rolls/wraps filled with tomatoes, ham and cheese. Also in quiches.

LetsKateWin · 28/02/2012 17:53

Mix red peston with a bit of creme fraiche, fried onions and red peppers and serve with chicken and rice/pasta/potatoes.

GrimmaTheNome · 28/02/2012 17:54

stir into greek yog for a quick dip for veg sticks.

GrimmaTheNome · 28/02/2012 17:57

If you don't use much pesto at a time (we don't have it that often, but DD occasionally likes it on pasta with some ham for a quick dinner), you can freeze it in ice cube trays.

Frontpaw · 28/02/2012 17:59

I do prefer red. I dollop it on top of bruscetta or put a thin layer on the bottom of a casserole dish then layer on pasta or veggies and put cheese sauce on top. It bubbles through and yummmmmmmmm.

Nice in a sandwich with tomatoes and mozarella.

VikingVagine · 28/02/2012 18:11

Steam some flat green beans (they might have another name but I can't for the life of me remember it), drain, stir in a spoon of green pesto, crumble some Feta into it and hey pesto!

PoppadumPreach · 28/02/2012 18:26

chicken and pesto risotto!

here is a recipe for turkey and pesto risotto but obviously it doesn't take much to change it to chicken!

major hit in our house.....!

BlueEyeshadow · 28/02/2012 18:30

Aldi do various speciality pestos sometimes - roasted veg, and walnut and ricotta are my favourites - which are yum. If you add some roasted veg and/or pine nuts to the pasta it makes it a bit more interesting.

travailtotravel · 28/02/2012 18:39

stir into plain cous cous. Ruddy yum yum!

JamieAngelosMuse · 28/02/2012 19:17

Love it stirred into cream with a little bit of Parmesan and served over pan-fried chicken livers. Mmmmmm.

UntamedShrew · 28/02/2012 19:20

Add to mashed potato - I like roast salmon with pesto mash

Add to pancake batter, when pancakes are cooked eat them folded up with cheese and ham

Original poster
Shutupanddrive · 28/02/2012 19:36

Yum, some great ideas here. Can't wait to try them out. viking I have all those ingredients in my fridge so thats tomorrows lunch sorted. And will definately try the pasta bake msweatherwax sounds delicious Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Shutupanddrive · 28/02/2012 19:48

Am making pesto mash now!

OP posts:
HuevosRancheros · 28/02/2012 20:00

My quick pasta sauce, also doubles as pizza topping.
Fry as much garlic as you like/can handle in a little oil. Add chopped tinned tomatoes (and their juice if for pasta, don't bother if for pizza), salt, pepper, spoon of green pesto, spoon of red pesto. Done. Lovely and fresh tasting :)

Enjoy the mash!

cookielove · 28/02/2012 21:22

Added to mash, oh god that sounds sooooo good.

I really want some pesto now.

Dam you pesto why do you taste so good Grin

worzelswife · 28/02/2012 21:35

I have it with gnocchi too. Love pesto.

Catsmamma · 28/02/2012 21:40

slather it on pizza bases...home made or bought (but the bought ones can tend to be a bit dry) instead of making a tomato sauce for super quick pizzas

make sure you use a good bit and plenty of toppings too.

and my other tip is to smear some of the red pesto on salmon before you cook it....if you are griddling it though it spits like the very devil if the griddle is too hot. Serve with lemony noodles or linguine.

mamalovebird · 28/02/2012 21:45

I made pesto mash on Sunday for the first time - it was LUSH!

Also, mix with breadcrumbs and pecorino cheese and put on salmon fillets.

Like the idea of putting it on pizza bases, will try that this weekend.

cookielove · 28/02/2012 21:59

I just found a jar of red pesto, hidden away quite obviously in the fridge door in the fridge, i am now in heaven eating it on toast. Using dp's bread, ooooh i want more but he needs for his lunch what to do dilemma???