Jarred Pesto

DeLallo Simply Pesto® Traditional Basil Sauce is a fragrant and flavorful homage to the Northern Italian classic. This exquisite jarred pesto sauce is made in Italy with a handful of fresh, simple ingredients such as handpicked Ligurian basil leaves, extra virgin olive oil and crunchy pine nuts along with iconic Italian cheeses, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino Romano.

Pesto sauce is a simple, but flavorful no-cook sauce that is best enjoyed in its raw form. Simply toss with hot pasta or enjoy as a drizzle on pizzas, salads, soups and more.

• 100% Italian pesto.
• Features fresh ingredients.
• Made with olive oil. No additives or preservatives.
• A ready-to-use sauce with no preheating or cooking necessary.

Kitchen and Usage Tips:

Our jarred pesto sauce is more than just a pasta sauce. While it is a tasty choice for a quick and easy weeknight pasta dish, just a spoonful or two of jarred pesto adds a burst of flavor to soups, marinades, dressings, dips and more. Top sandwiches and paninis. Drizzle on roasted vegetables. Flavor breakfast potatoes and egg dishes.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is pesto?

Traditionally, pesto is a green sauce made with crushed basil, extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts and Parmesan cheese. This herbaceous sauce originated in Genoa, Italy. The word “pesto” comes from the Italian verb “pestare,” meaning “to crush.” This is because traditional basil pesto sauce was made using a mortar and pestle to crush the ingredients. While it is often served as a homemade no-cook pasta sauce, you can buy jarred pesto in grocery stores and use it for everything from creamy dips and dressings to grilled meats and seafood marinades. Pesto can also refer to other crushed sauce made with featured ingredients like sweet red peppers, pistachio nuts, sun-dried tomatoes and more.

What does pesto taste like? Is it a strong flavor?

Yes, pesto has a bold, bright and herbaceous flavor. It is made with crushed fresh basil leaves that are very fragrant and flavorful. Just a spoonful adds a burst of flavor, so you can add as little or as much as you’d like. You can also combine the store-bought pesto (from the grocery store) with more extra virgin olive oil to tone down the flavor, if desired.

What do I eat pesto with?

There are so many ways to use jarred pesto. Pesto is primarily used as a pasta sauce to flavor both hot and cold pasta recipes. As a flavorful Italian condiment, basil pesto can be used as a dressing for fresh cut veggies, leafy green salads, grain bowls and more. Just a drizzle enhances pizzas, flatbreads, soups and stews. Use it to create creamy dips, dipping sauces and marinades.

Is this jarred pesto ready to eat?

Yes, jarred pesto is a raw sauce that can be used straight from the jar. In fact, for hot applications as a pasta sauce, it is best stirred into a serving bowl with hot pasta rather than cooking in a saucepan. Cooking the pesto will take away from its fresh, raw (or crudo) flavor.

How do I make homemade pesto?

Making homemade basil pesto is easier than you think. While once pesto sauce was made by crushing herbs with a mortar and pestle, these days, we make pesto very easily in a food processor. The biggest step is acquiring all the ingredients: fresh basil leaves, a fine Extra Virgin Olive Oil, pine nuts or other crunchy nut for texture and a grated hard Italian cheese like Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese.

Still, jarred pesto from the grocery store can be a good substitute if you don’t have the time or a food processor.