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Recipes with Pesto

July 20, 2016
Becky Luigart-Stayner
Pesto's traditional ingredients are basil, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese. They're crushed together with a mortar and pestle to form a luxurious no-cook sauce that's delicious on pasta, vegetables, meats, and more. The beauty of pesto is how versatile it is. If you make a batch on the weekend, you can use it as a sauce for one dinner, a spread for a sandwich the next night, and a dip for a side of veggies after that. It's simple to make with a food processor. You can mix up the ingredients to feature your favorite herb, nut, or cheese. The possibilities are endless.
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Pesto Pasta Salad With Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella

This Caprese-inspired pasta toss is the ultimate summer main for a busy weeknight, outdoor picnic, or lunch on the go. Use yellow and red tomatoes for a stunning presentation and wonderful flavor variety.

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Rigatoni with Kale Pesto

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Rigatoni with Kale Pesto

Whole-wheat pasta would be a tasty option here, complementing the earthy flavor of kale.

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Chicken Pesto Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Chicken Pesto Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

It’s seems like portobello mushrooms were just made for stuffing. Not only is this loaded fork-and-knife-entrée easy and cheesy; it's customizable, too. Make it your own with any produce or herbs you already have in your fridge, you can even switch up the protein if you’re feeling like steak or serving a vegetarian guest. If you don’t mind the extra step, homemade pesto takes this dish from great to amazing.

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Chickpea Ravioli with Basil Pesto and Hazelnuts

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Chickpea Ravioli with Basil Pesto and Hazelnuts

This vegetarian pasta doesn't skimp on flavor or protein. Make extra pesto and freeze to use on other dishes such as grilled shrimp or Caprese salad. 

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Spaghetti with Pistachio-Mint Pesto and Spinach

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Spaghetti with Pistachio-Mint Pesto and Spinach

Pistachios lend deep, earthy flavors to this pasta dish that is ideal for potlucks and feeding large crowds.

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Tortellini with Snap Peas and Pesto

Photo: Stephen Devries
View Recipe: Tortellini with Snap Peas and Pesto

Taste the snap and crunch of springtime in this easy weeknight pasta dish.

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Open-Faced Chicken Sandwiches with Artichoke Pesto

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Open-Faced Chicken Sandwiches with Artichoke Pesto

Be sure to look for artichoke hearts that are canned in brine, not oil.

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Tomato and Prosciutto Sandwiches With Pea Pesto

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Tomato and Prosciutto Sandwiches With Pea Pesto

Toast the leftover torn bread from the baguette for breadcrumbs (which you can freeze), or add to soup for a slightly thicker soup.

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Chicken, Tortellini, and Spinach Soup with Pesto

Photo: Colin Clark
View Recipe: Chicken, Tortellini, and Spinach Soup with Pesto

Diced tomato and a dollop of garlicky pesto add freshness and color to this quick chicken-pasta soup. Searing the chicken thighs first creates browned bits that add savory richness to the broth.

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Golden Chicken with Cilantro-Cashew Pesto and Coconut Rice

Photo: Christopher Testani
View Recipe: Golden Chicken with Cilantro-Cashew Pesto and Coconut Rice

Tart lime and tangy yogurt provide a necessary fresh, bright kick to balance robust earthy notes from spices like curry.

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Mustard Green Pesto and Egg Open-Faced Sandwiches

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Mustard Green Pesto and Egg Open-Faced Sandwiches

This pesto works with any hearty greens; try turnip greens, kale, or chard. Any extra pesto will keep refrigerated for 4 days and frozen for up to a month.

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Pesto Caesar Salad

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Pesto Caesar Salad

This is an excellent non-traditional spin on the classic favorite. The creamy dressing is infused with both the basil-garlic punch of pesto and the lemon-anchovy pungency of Caesar dressing.

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Zucchini Noodles Tossed in a Cilantro-Avocado Pesto

Photo: Rebecca Longshore
View Recipe: Zucchini Noodles Tossed in a Cilantro-Avocado Pesto

Enjoy zucchini raw and tossed in a creamy cilantro-avocado pesto sauce. This basic recipe—a lighter play on pasta salad—is versatile, welcoming any veggies you like.

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Pesto Pastries

Photo: Christopher Testani
View Recipe: Pesto Pastries

Unlike classic pesto, there's no oil in this filling. Once everything is minced in the food processor, though, it develops a paste-like consistency. Thaw the pastry in the fridge overnight, or leave out at room temperature for an hour or two.

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Pepita Pesto-Stuffed Mushrooms

Photo: Justin Walker
View Recipe: Pepita Pesto-Stuffed Mushrooms

These pesto-filled, two-bite cremini mushrooms are perfect as an appetizer or as a side to grilled chicken or steak. The spicy Mexican-inspired pesto combines parsley, cilantro, pepitas, crushed red pepper and Cojita cheese for an innovative take on the traditional Italian recipe.

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Chicken, Red Grape, and Pesto Pizza

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Chicken, Red Grape, and Pesto Pizza

While grapes may be an unconventional pizza topping, they work wonders in this simple recipe. As a sweet contrast to nutty pesto and rich Italian cheeses, grapes are the perfect accompaniment to these ingredients. They’ll pick up caramelized flavor after time in the oven, taking on a toasty sweetness.

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Steak with Lemon-Herb Pesto and Spinach Salad

Photo: Brian Woodcock
View Recipe: Steak with Lemon-Herb Pesto and Spinach Salad

Be sure to put some of the pesto aside for a later weeknight dinner. It's herbaceous flavor pairs well with beef, chicken, and fish.

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Sausage and Kale Pesto Pizza with Blistered Tomato-Arugula Salad

Photo: Brian Woodcock
View Recipe: Sausage and Kale Pesto Pizza with Blistered Tomato-Arugula Salad

Cooking pizza in a skillet is a revelation: guaranteed dough success for even the most timid pie makers—just pat the dough out to size, and the pan shapes it into a perfect circle. 

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Sautéed Acadian Redfish with Pistachio and Orange Pesto

Photo: Brian Woodcock
View Recipe: Sautéed Acadian Redfish with Pistachio and Orange Pesto

To grill instead, prepare an indirect, medium-heat fire. Stack the fillets in pairs, flesh side to flesh side, making 4 stacks. Place stacks on grill rack coated with cooking spray, and grill 12 minutes or until desired degree of doneness—no need to flip.

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Grilled Trout with Roasted Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Celery Leaf Pesto

Photo: Lee Harrelson
View Recipe: Grilled Trout with Roasted Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Celery Leaf Pesto

Say hello to your new favorite seafood dinner! This sweet and nutty autumnal recipe will make everyone at the table swoon. 

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Butternut Squash Ravioli With Spinach Pesto

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Butternut Squash Ravioli With Spinach Pesto

This is the easy way to use supermarket wonton wrappers for a weeknight ravioli treat. You can use this technique to make this deliciously sweet butternut squash ravioli topped with a fresh, herby pesto.

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Green Vegetable Soup with Lemon-Basil Pesto

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Green Vegetable Soup with Lemon-Basil Pesto

Covering the pot when bringing the liquid to a simmer gets this soup ready even faster.

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Chicken Drumsticks with Cilantro Pesto

Photo: Johnny Miller
View Recipe: Chicken Drumsticks with Cilantro Pesto

A homemade pesto gives grilled chicken drumticks party-time flavor, while a serrano chile adds a subtle kick to this zesty sauce.

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Linguine with Spinach-Herb Pesto

Photo: Francesco Tonelli
View Recipe: Linguine with Spinach-Herb Pesto

Here is a lovely twist on beloved pesto for spring. Baby spinach takes the place of most of the basil to give the sauce an earthy flavor. The thick, emerald sauce beautifully coats the flat noodles and serves up big flavor in every forkful.

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Shrimp Farfalle with Arugula Pesto

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Shrimp Farfalle with Arugula Pesto

Arugula instills this pesto with a peppery bite that pairs beautifully with supple, slightly sweet shrimp.

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Broccoli and Pecorino Pesto Pasta

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Broccoli and Pecorino Pesto Pasta

This nut-free pesto trades traditional pine nuts and Parmesan for broccoli and nutty-tasting pecorino Romano. Anchovy fillets add meatiness, but you can skip them if you like.

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Pesto Shrimp Kebabs

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Pesto Shrimp Kebabs

Fire up the grill and cue the mouth-watering goodness of pesto shrimp paired with grilled bell peppers.

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Halibut with Quick Lemon Pesto

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Halibut with Quick Lemon Pesto

Grated lemon rind and juice lend tartness to the pesto that enhances the natural flavors of this simple grilled fish.

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Sautéed Halibut with Lemon-Pesto Butter

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Sautéed Halibut with Lemon-Pesto Butter

Make extra lemon-herb butter. It's delicious tossed with steamed green beans, hot cooked rice, or pasta. Garnish with fresh basil.

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Pesto Shrimp Pasta

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Pesto Shrimp Pasta

This delectable pasta dish features swirls of tender angel hair, plump shrimp, and grape tomatoes tossed with pesto. Garnish with sprigs of basil just before serving for extra color and a burst of freshness.

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Pita Pizzas with Kale Pesto, Tomatoes, and Bacon

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Pita Pizzas with Kale Pesto, Tomatoes, and Bacon

Make-ahead prep tip: Double the pesto portion of the recipe, and freeze half for a future pita pizza dinner.

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Fall Vegetable Stew with Mint Pesto

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Fall Vegetable Stew with Mint Pesto

The fresh, herby pesto adds a pop of bright flavor to earthy root vegetables, setting this stew apart from the ordinary. Best not to leave it out.

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Grilled Vegetable Caprese with Pesto

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Grilled Vegetable Caprese with Pesto

The original Caprese salad consists of mozzarella, tomato, and basil, but our take adds grilled vegetables and homemade pesto for a hearty twist.

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Gnocchi with Shrimp, Asparagus, and Pesto

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Gnocchi with Shrimp, Asparagus, and Pesto

Gnocchi—small Italian potato dumplings—are a hearty alternative to pasta. While making gnocchi from scratch could take more than an hour, premade vacuum-packed dumplings cook in a few minutes.

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Broiled Red Snapper with Sicilian Tomato Pesto

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Broiled Red Snapper with Sicilian Tomato Pesto

Plum tomatoes work best in this recipe; juicier tomatoes would thin the pesto. No need to seed or peel them. You can make the pesto ahead and keep it chilled. Stir in the tomatoes just before serving.

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Spaghetti with Parsley Pesto and Sausage

Photo: Justin Walker
View Recipe: Spaghetti with Parsley Pesto and Sausage

A sprinkling of crumbled spicy sausage makes a salty-savory finishing touch to herb-drenched pasta. Some pestos tend to go drab, but this one stays a brilliant emerald green.

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Grilled Vegetable Pitas with Goat Cheese and Pesto Mayo

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Grilled Vegetable Pitas with Goat Cheese and Pesto Mayo

For these filling pitas, you can use whatever vegetables you have on hand—eggplant, summer squash, bok choy, or sweet onion. Here we use portobellos, red bell peppers, and Vidalia onions.

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White Beans with Roasted Red Pepper and Pesto

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: White Beans with Roasted Red Pepper and Pesto

Add a green salad and crusty bread to this simple rustic dish for a satisfying supper. Simmer the beans on the stovetop if they're still not tender after cooking under pressure for 12 minutes.

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