Pesto is a versatile sauce that is not only good for you, but tastes great too! This Italian sauce is easy to make at home and can be used as a healthy accompaniment to jazz-up pastas, meats, cheeses and soups. With each individual ingredient offering healthy benefits, pesto is a green sauce that everyone should make a part of his or her diet.
History
Pesto is a raw sauce that originated in Genoa, Italy, and was traditionally used with pastas. Basil, the main ingredient in the historical form of pesto, is an herb that has been a staple in Mediterranean foods since the Greek and Roman eras but probably originated in Northern Africa.
Pesto arrived in mainstream American cuisine in the 1980s, where the uses for the sauce expanded through the culinary arts. Made with basil, salt, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts and parmesan cheese, the flavors burst from each ingredient but complement each other nicely. The use of food processors and blenders to mix pesto have allowed for it to be more commonplace in the household.
Features
The historical, Italian form of pesto is made by crushing basil leaves, garlic and salt with a mortar and pestle until it reaches a pasty consistency. Next, add the pine nuts and crush until a little more creamy. Finally, mix in the extra virgin olive oil and cheese with a wooden spoon and serve.
Hand-chopped pesto is easily recognizable because you can both see and taste the different ingredients in the sauce. A food processor creates a consistent blend of all the ingredients for a pasty pesto, while the rougher mix still often separates and allows each flavorful ingredient to shine through.
Function
Pesto is used to add flavor to any dish, whether it be a lasagna, chicken sandwich or antipasti platter. It's a healthy, inexpensive sauce that you can make at home to jazz up a dinner party or, grow your own basil plant and share this kid-friendly recipe with your family.
Pesto can last up to a week in the refrigerator but also freezes really well. A good trick is to freeze pesto (along with other sauces) in an ice cube tray so you can thaw small portions and single servings at a time.
Benefits
The health benefits of basil come from the ingredients that create the sauce. Basil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities and contains vitamins, iron and calcium. Extra virgin olive oil contains vitamin E and has natural antioxidants to help fight cancers and heart disease. Garlic also offers antioxidant protection and can lower blood pressure. PIne nuts and cheese offer proteins and monounsaturated fats. Healthy ingredients promote a healthy lifestyle, without sacrificing any flavor.
Types
Red pesto is a variation to the traditional version; simply substitute sun-dried tomatoes or grilled red bell peppers for the basil to create another flavorful sauce (great with chicken dishes!). Also, you can substitute crushed cashews or walnuts for the pine nuts to use a less expensive nut or if you have an allergy.
A similar historical sauce is pistou, which is a simplified form of pesto, with only a mixture of garlic, basil and extra virgin olive oil. It is sometimes made with cheese, but never nuts. Pistou is often mixed into soups and sauces for flavor.
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