15 Herbs That Make a Great Pesto

When we think of pesto, basil is the herb that comes to mind and indeed, that is the herb used in the traditional pesto sauces.  But Pesto comes from the Italian ‘pestare‘ which means ‘to crush‘ or ‘to pound‘, so really any herb can be used! In fact sun dried tomatoes or roast peppers make wonderful pestos

I find pestos are a really handy way to preserve herbs as you keep all of the flavour in a bottle, ready to add to anything that you are cooking.  I don’t always add nuts or cheese, so often my pestos are really just crushed herbs with garlic and olive oil.  Here are some herbs that are well worth trying when you have an abundance in your garden.

I have included the oil, nut type and cheese that combine well with the herb, but play around with the flavours and you will soon find your own favourites.

Coriander – Avocado oil, macadamia nut

rosemary pestoRosemary – Olive oil, Brazil or almonds, Parmesan

Lemon Thyme – Olive or Avocado oil, pine, cashew or macadamia nuts

Summer savoury – Olive oil, cashew nuts, Parmesan cheese

Parsley – Olive oil, cashew or macadamia nuts

Origanum – Olive oil, almonds

Spekboom pesto Barefoot HerbsStinging nettles – Olive oil, almonds or cashews

Sage – Olive oil, walnuts

Dandelion – Avocado oil, cashews

Spekboom – Olive oil, almonds or cashews, Parmesan cheese

Dandelion pestoChickweed – Grape seed oil, no nuts or cheese

Sorrel – Olive oil, hazelnuts, Parmesan

Fenugreek – Sesame or olive oil, macadamia or cashew nuts

  • Lavender – Olive oil, walnuts
  • Wild rosemary – Olive oil, macadamia or cashew nuts

 

rosemary pesto

15 Ways to Use Pesto

And now you have made a whole bunch of herb pestos, here are some ideas of how to use them.

A spread on fresh bread or biscuits

Toss through pasta

Zucchini pesto salad Barefoot LifeAs a sauce for meat or fish

Rubbed onto vegetables before you roast them

Add a dollop to soup

Roll into bread dough before you bake it

Layer into lasagne

Green bean salad barefoot herbsAdd to a sandwich

Combine with yogurt or cream cheese

Stuff a baked potato, top with cheese and grill

Stuff a chicken breast

Lentil Pear Salad Barefoot HErbsIn ravioli

In pasta salad

In potato salad

In marinades

 

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