Basil pesto is made with fresh basil.
Basil pesto is a savory sauce that has been used in the Mediterranean region for centuries. It is made from fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, black pepper and Parmesan cheese. The ingredients are blended until they make a smooth paste that can be used fresh or kept frozen for up to six months. Basil pesto complements many different foods.
Sandwich Spread
Basil pesto makes a good sandwich spread. It can replace mayonnaise or salad dressing in chicken sandwiches and it also partners well with tomato and cheese sandwiches. Try spreading basil pesto on Italian bread and then adding thinly sliced tomatoes, black pepper and salt. Top this with cheese and broil it for a few minutes until the cheese has melted.
Side Vegetable Dishes
You can add basil pesto to vegetables to make side dishes. Toss it into cooked broccoli, green beans, carrots or cauliflower to make delicious vegetable dishes to complement many meals. Another side dish can be made by mixing basil pesto into boiled or baked potatoes that have been cut into pieces.
Basil Pesto Pasta Salad
Basil pesto can be added as a dressing for cold pasta salad. Stir basil pesto and a small amount of sour cream into any pasta salad. If you wish, you can omit the sour cream. You may also add fresh lemon juice. This pasta salad can be made ahead of time and refrigerated. The basil pesto provides a good alternative to other dressings.
Basil Pesto Pasta Main Dish
Basil pesto goes well with cooked pasta dishes. Typically, it is combined with either a cream or tomato sauce and mixed into any kind of cooked pasta. Cooked green beans, mushrooms or broccoli, along with pieces of roasted chicken breast or cooked prawns make great additions to this type of dish. You can also add diced yellow, green or sweet red pepper. This is a typical Italian dish that can be made in a multitude of ways.
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