These nine incredible red pesto recipe ideas will give you the inspiration to shake up your dinner routine and make something new and exciting. This fresh and tangy sauce has a hint of sweetness with sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan cheese, garlic, and fresh herbs. Each one of these recipes featuring red pesto is even more delicious than the last.
So, what exactly is red pesto? Red pesto, also called pesto rosso is most commonly made with sun-dried tomatoes which gives it a beautiful reddish orange color. While it is readily available at most grocery stores, it is so easy to make at home and all you need is a food processor. If you enjoy making homemade pesto, check out this delicious sun-dried tomato pesto recipe.
Some red pesto recipes call for roasted red bell peppers in place of sun-dried tomatoes. Other ingredients in red pesto sauce typically include:
- Olive oil (extra virgin olive oil preferred)
- Garlic cloves
- Parmesan cheese or a similar hard cheese like pecorino romano
- Nuts such as pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews, or even sunflower seeds
- Fresh herbs such as basil or parsley
Most pesto we are accustomed to seeing at the supermarket is green as its main ingredient is fresh basil leaves. While I love green pesto, red pesto has a salty and slightly sweet umami flavor that can not be beat.
Red pesto is also fantastic because it can be used in so many incredible recipes without overpowering other flavors. Use it as a pasta sauce, marinade for chicken or veggies, appetizer dip or on bruschetta, as a pizza sauce, or even as a sandwich spread.
These nine red pesto recipes will be sure to give you plenty of ideas on how to use this incredible sauce.
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta
This delicious creamy tomato pesto pasta recipe comes together in just a few minutes and only requires a few ingredients. Creamy red pesto pasta is perfect for quick weeknight dinners but elegant enough for when you want to impress friends and family.
Gnocchi with Sausage and Red Pesto
Soft potato gnocchi combined with spicy Italian sausage, red pesto, cream, mushrooms, and spinach and topped with grated parmesan cheese creates a perfect weeknight meal any family will love. This cozy and rich red pesto recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes and only uses one pot for easy cleanup. Using store-bought, shelf-stable gnocchi is the key to this rich and delicious recipe.
Bucatini with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
This simple but delicious red pesto pasta recipe only requires six ingredients. The sun-dried tomato pesto is homemade and uses almonds instead of pine nuts. It also cleverly incorporates the olive oil in which sun-dried tomatoes are packed for extra flavor.
Creamy Red Pesto Butter Beans
These savory, creamy butter beans are packed with protein and flavor. This excellent recipe includes fresh tomatoes, red pesto, and flavorful spices for an incredible side dish that comes together in less than 15 minutes.
Marry Me Chicken Recipe
This marry me chicken recipe includes perfectly seared chicken breasts simmered in a rich creamy sun-dried tomato pesto sauce with fresh basil and grated parmesan. Even the pickiest of eaters will love this delicious way to use red pesto.
Oven Baked Red Pesto Frittata
Another 30-minute recipe, this red pesto frittata uses only one skillet for easy cleanup. It includes tons of veggies for fresh flavor and sour cream to add some richness. This red pesto recipe idea is perfect for brunch to no-fuss dinners.
Red Pesto Pasta with Eggplant
In this recipe, pasta is tossed in savory red pesto and tender roasted eggplant. Topped with whipped ricotta cheese and chopped fresh basil leaves, it's the perfect way to make a more exciting pasta dish.
Red Pesto Pasta Salad
This sun-dried tomato pesto pasta salad has only a few ingredients but doesn't skimp on flavor. Cooked pasta is tossed in red pesto, mayo, red wine vinegar, grated parmesan, and sun-dried tomatoes, making it a great recipe for picnics or barbeques.
Red Pepper Pesto Pasta
This red pesto pasta uses roasted red peppers instead of sun-dried tomatoes. It also includes pine nuts for crunch and red wine vinegar for an additional punch of flavor.
How To Store Red Pesto
Whenever I have leftovers from making homemade pesto, I store it in glass jars with tight-fitting lids. These jars have become my favorite for storing pesto sauce. Red pesto can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to five days.
Red pesto can be kept frozen in an airtight container for up to three months. When ready to enjoy, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
FAQ's
Pine nuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews, or even pistachios are used in pesto. Have fun and experiment with your favorites to create your own recipe.
Yes, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds (pepitas) are a few favorite substitutions for nuts.
Yes, sun-dried tomato pesto is perfect for making in advance and freezing. I love to use these large ice cube trays to freeze pesto sauce. Once frozen, remove the ice cubes, transfer to a ziplock bag, and freeze for up to three months. When ready to enjoy, either let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight or toss the frozen pesto sauce into hot-cooked pasta until it has melted.
No, unless you add an extra spicy ingredient, such as red pepper flakes. The bright red color in sun-dried tomato pesto comes from the dried tomatoes, which do not contain any heat. Likewise, red pesto, made from roasted red bell peppers, is also not spicy as red bell peppers are sweet and do not contain any heat.
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