50+ Easy Pesto Recipes

Think pesto is just a fancy sauce for pasta? Think again! This book presents more than 50 takes on the traditional Italian condiment, from the classic basil and pine nut recipe we all know to tantalizing variations like Artichoke Kale pesto, BLT pesto, and Sun-Dried Tomato pesto.

Throughout the book you’ll see serving suggestions for each twist on the original. Pesto is terrific on roasted, broiled, or grilled meats; fish and other seafood; and with roasted or grilled vegetables. Try it as a dip for raw vegetables or chips, or as a spread for sandwiches, crostini, or bruschetta. My Carrot pesto adds a fresh taste to grilled chicken breasts, for example. Serve Cranberry pesto on sliced roast turkey. Or add a dollop of Tarragon Walnut pesto to your own hearty stew. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

This book is a labor of love. I began working on it during the pandemic, after I was diagnosed with sarcoma and started chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Facing the possible loss of a limb, I realized that I had to begin eating better -- and also that I needed to keep a positive focus. What better way to do so than by cooking?

Now, anyone who's endured this kind of ordeal will tell you that food and cooking are likely among the least plausible diversions. One thing I remembered, though, about growing up around all things foodie is that I have never made a batch of pesto that didn’t bring a smile to my face. For that matter, just talking about it and seeing the enjoyment it brought people made me happy as well.

Here's the result of that process. I hope these recipes bring you as much joy as they did me. Buon appetito!