HomeAll about pesto ALL ABOUT PESTO WHAT IS PESTO? Pesto is an Italian sauce. Pesto alla Genovese, originated in Genoa, the capital city of Liguria, in Italy. The name ‘Pesto’ derives from the Italian verb, pestare, meaning to crush or grind. The key ingredient of Classic Italian Pesto is basil which is crushed into a delicious sauce with garlic, Olive Oil, grated hard cheese and pine nuts. Pesto is simple to make and ready made in jars it’s a convenient family favourite – great with pasta and in many more Italian recipes. FAQS WHAT IS PESTO MADE OF? Classic Italian Green Pesto is made from basil – originally from the Italian region of Liguria. The basil is crushed with garlic, Olive Oil, grated hard cheese and pine nuts making a rich sauce that’s perfect with pasta and many more delicious recipes. Apart from Classic Pesto other Italian regions have different pesto recipes using sun dried tomatoes, chargrilled vegetables, peppers, ricotta cheese and other signature regional ingredients. Learn more about our different Pesto flavours. WHAT IS RED PESTO? There are many red-coloured Pesto sauces, but the term usually refers to Pesto that is made with sundried tomatoes, the second most popular variant in the UK. Red Pesto is great for stirring through pasta – but it also adds vigour and fresh flavour to many types of sauces. Learn more about Red Pesto and Filippo Berio’s whole range of delicious pesto sauces. WHAT IS GREEN PESTO? Green Pesto, so-called because of the vibrant green basil which is its main ingredient, is a classic Italian sauce. Pesto alla genovese was originally created in Genoa in the Italian region of Liguria (traditional green Pesto uses Ligurian basil). Green, or classic, Pesto is a popular and versatile cooking ingredient used in pasta and many other delicious Italian recipes. Discover some of our favourite Green Pesto recipes. IS PESTO VEGAN? Most Pesto is made with cheese which contains animal rennet so it is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians. If you’re making your own pesto, simply swap the cheese for one that is suitable for vegans and add some nutritional yeast for extra flavour. Try our Gnocchi with Vegan Pesto recipe. IS PESTO VEGETARIAN? Most Pesto is made with cheese which contains animal rennet so it is not suitable for vegetarians. If you’re making your own pesto, simply swap the cheese for one that is suitable for vegetarians. WHAT GOES WITH PESTO SAUCE? Pesto Sauce is often mixed with pasta – straight from the jar, it offers a simple and quick meal for all the family. However, Pesto goes far beyond pasta, it’s an endlessly versatile ingredient which can be used in many different ways – on pizzas, with sandwiches, with grilled fish and lots more. PESTO BREADSTICKS These tasty pesto bread sticks make fabulously moreish appetisers. GNOCCHI WITH VEGAN PESTO These Italian-Style fluffy potato and flour dumplings are easy to prepare. HOW TO USE PESTO SAUCE FROM A JAR? Pesto sauce is a real store cupboard saviour! Simply stir the sauce straight from the jar through cooked pasta and serve for a delicious, quick and easy family meal. But Pesto isn’t just about pasta – it can be used in a wide variety of ways to add flavour to other dishes, as a base for pizza or as a sauce in a sandwich. Find lots of delicious Pesto recipes from Filippo Berio. CAN PEANUTS BE FOUND IN PESTO? The traditional recipe for Italian Green Pesto contains pine nuts, not peanuts. (Contrary to their name, pine nuts are not actually classified as a nut.) However, since some readymade Pesto sauces may contain other ‘true’ nuts, shoppers should always check the product label very carefully. If other nuts are used they must be declared. ALL ABOUT PESTO & FAQS PESTO RECIPES OUR PESTO PRODUCTS SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER & GET ALL THE LATEST RECIPES, COMPETITIONS & OFFERS SIGN UP See our Privacy Policy for full information on how we respect your privacy FAVOURITE PESTO RECIPES Sundried tomato pesto stuffed chicken Sundried Tomato Pesto & Peperonata Wraps Smashed Pesto Potatoes Pesto Roasted Potatoes Tomato & Ricotta Pesto Stuffed Chicken Wrapped In Parma Ham Goats Cheese and Pesto Frittata Lemon & Pesto Fishcakes Chicken Cacciatore Slow Cooked Pork Belly With Pesto & Fennel Filling © 2021 Filippo Berio UK 4108585 Modern Slavery Statement Privacy policy Terms & Conditions Our online boutique is temporarily closed whilst our website has a makeover! It will re-open on 1st December Dismiss We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies from this website. For more information on how they are used, read our privacy policy. Dismiss this notice