True pesto lovers know that nothing compares to one that’s blended at home. If you’re all about making pesto in bulk, or if you’re faced with a bounty of basil (or other herbaceous pesto-friendly green), we’ve got plenty of ways beyond pasta to put it all to use this summer.
When it comes to making pesto, Ina Garten’s easy 15-minute recipe (pictured above) is a solid place to start. Once you’ve got the formula down pat, you can doctor your of-the-moment pesto at will. Have some arugula on your hands? You can swap it (or nearly any other leafy green) in. Out of Parmesan but have other hard cheeses available? Those are fair game too. Out of pine nuts? Add a different kind for a new nuttiness. There are countless ways to mix and match ingredients for pesto, and there are tons of ways to put it all to use too.
Do like Giada De Laurentiis and cover boneless grilled chicken breasts with vivacious, fresh pesto that’s spiked with a little lemon. Believe it or not, the grilling and the pesto-blending for Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto comes together in just 23 minutes, and it results in a 5-star protein with ample zesty flavor.
Mayo haters and pesto lovers alike will find common ground in this healthy Pesto Potato Salad. Fresh and bright, unlike its classic creamy counterpart, it’s loads healthier than the usual mayonnaise-based cookout recipe. Ellie Krieger suggests freezing the leftover pesto in ice cube trays.
Next time you’ve got some pizza dough on your hands, skip the marinara. Fix Food Network Magazine’s Flatbread with Bacon and Scallion Pesto, which gets big and easy flavor from blended scallions, capers and parsley.
Whip up a spreadable pesto that’s a little different than the herb-focused kind; mix together peas, garlic and grated Parmesan. Slather it over crusty grilled baguette slices for Giada’s appetizer-friendly Pea Pesto Crostini, and watch how she makes it here.
Pesto does wonders when paired with grilled fish. Go for Giada’s easy, healthy seafood dish Grilled Tuna with Basil Pesto. The fish needs a seasoning of only salt and pepper before it’s seared, as the topping of homemade pesto adds big flavor just before serving.
Bring a touch of pesto to your favorite sandwich. Mix pesto with mayo before spreading over crusty bread for an extra-enticing Italian BLT from Food Network Magazine.
Get more pesto recipes from our friends:
The Lemon Bowl: Lemony Pistachio Basil Pesto
Dishin & Dishes: Kale Pesto and Mushroom Stuffed Porterhouse Chops
Creative Culinary: Pesto Potato Salad with Parmesan Walnuts
Weelicious: Kale Pesto
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Garden Salad With Basil-Pesto Vinaigrette
Red or Green: Corn On The Cob With Basil-Jalapeno Vinaigrette
Homemade Delish: Spinach and Kale Pesto
Domesticate Me: Ratatouille Quinoa Bake with Pesto and Buffalo Mozzarella
The Mom 100: Crusted Loin Lamb Chops with Mint Basil Pesto
Taste with the Eyes: Fresh, Fabulous, and Frugal – Carrot Top Pesto
Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Chicken Breasts with Coconut and Cilantro Pesto
Healthy Eats: Green Is the New Black: 5 Must-Try Pestos
TasteBook: Pesto Chicken Kebabs
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6 Non-Pasta Ways to Go Big with Pesto — Summer Soiree