Healthy snacking is everyone’s favorite, but people are afraid of tasteless food. That brings us to Pesto which is not only healthy but a delicious option as well. However, everyone has some allergies, and people with nut allergies end up asking, “does pesto have nuts?” If you have the same question in mind, we are sharing about Pesto!
Does Pesto Have Nuts?
The traditional pesto recipe is made with garlic, basil leaves, olive oil (extra virgin), salt, Parmigiano Reggiano, and pine nuts. It is made with the highest quality ingredients because the flavor depends on the ingredient’s quality. However, pine nuts can be hard to use because they are expensive and aren’t even worth it. This is because there is an endless variety of nuts available, which perfectly complement Pesto. Before we name the suitable nuts, let us tell you roasting or toasting them is better.
Toasting or roasting will improve the health standards and make sure nuts are properly cooled down before you buzz them up. Besides, the roasted nuts will add roast-y flavor profiles to the sauce and darken the color. As far as the nuts are concerned, you can use peanuts, walnuts, sesame seeds, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and macadamia nuts. In addition to these nuts, you can use sunflower seeds, pecans, and pistachios.
For the most part, Pesto is made with pine nuts. However, if you want to opt for other nuts, you can use a different recipe. On the other hand, if you have nut allergies and cannot use them, there are basil-based pesto recipes available as they have no nuts. Also, if you are someone who doesn’t like basil, you can use kale, rocket, mint, dill, coriander, or spinach as well.
Pesto – What Is It?
With the previous section, we have shared complete information about nuts in Pesto, but what is Pesto, actually? Pesto is basically a sauce native to Genoa, Italy. It is known to have crushed garlic, coarse salt, parmesan cheese, olive oil, basil leaves, and pine nuts. As far as the preparation is concerned, it’s made in a marble mortar, and a wooden pestle is used. To begin with, the pine nuts and garlic are made into a cream with the help of mortar.
Then, the dried basil leaves are added to this paste along with coarse salt. After this, the hard cheeses are added to the mixture and olive oil. This paste can be refrigerated for over a week, and people also freeze it for storing it for a longer time. If you have to keep it in the fridge, make sure to use an airtight jar (glass or plastic, both will work). As far as the usage is concerned, Pesto goes well with pasta and trofie. In addition, you can mix Pesto with string beans and potatoes to make a quick dinner meal. However, if we look beyond Italy, Pesto is served with beef (slices), boiled potatoes, and tomatoes.
Variations In Pesto
There are various recipes available for Pesto, and the term is widely used for foods that are pounded. We have already talked about the original pesto recipe and how it’s created. Even more, this dish has been proposed to be included in the intangible cultural heritage list of UNESCO. However, in the section below, we are sharing different pesto variations, such as;
- Pistou – This variation is made and served in Provence, which is made with garlic, basil, olive oil, and cheese. This is a great option for people who don’t want to eat nuts. Also, it’s used in the vegetable soup
- Red Pesto – this sauce is similar to the traditional Pesto, but it uses almonds rather than pine nuts. In addition, it has less basil and lots of tomatoes which leads to the red color
- Pesto Alla Calabrese – this sauce is native to Calabria, which has black pepper and bell peppers along with the traditional ingredients to create a spicy flavor
To summarize, Pesto does have nuts, especially if you follow the traditional recipes. Generally, pine nuts are used, but Pesto can be made with other nuts, as mentioned in the article. Also, Pistou is a suitable variation for people who like traditional pesto flavor but don’t want nuts.