Pesto is a savory condiment almost always used for first courses such as pasta and minestrone. However, understanding how to use it to flavor other dishes can raise doubts. In addition to pasta, you can add a dollop of pesto to scrambled eggs or a bowl of popcorn to make these preparations have a unique and rich taste. Thanks to the recipes in this article you will be able to rediscover the delicious flavor of pesto and all its potential in the kitchen!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use Pesto for Breakfast
Step 1. Garnish the scrambled eggs with a dollop of pesto
You can use pesto and cheese instead of salt and pepper to season scrambled eggs, thus preparing a unique and tasty breakfast. If the pesto is particularly thick and you can't pour it over the eggs, add a tablespoon of olive oil or water to dilute it. Pour it over the eggs while they are hot to enhance the taste.
Step 2. Add pesto to an omelette or omelette
Add a spoonful of pesto to raw eggs before beating them to feel the flavor of this sauce more intensely. Beat the ingredients until you get a homogeneous mixture, without lumps or piles. Cook the omelette or omelette as usual.
If you prefer the topping notes to be delicate and almost imperceptible, pour a small amount of pesto over the omelette before serving
Step 3. Spread the pesto on the toast
Pesto can be a tasty (and healthier) alternative to butter or jams. Take a small amount with a butter knife and spread it on a slice of toast. You can do the same with a bagel, using pesto instead of cream cheese.
Method 2 of 3: Incorporate Pesto into Lunch and Dinner
Step 1. Add the pesto to the pasta immediately after cooking it
Prepare a plate of pasta (preferably al dente) and drain the water. Don't let it cool. Instead, pour it into a clean dish and add a generous serving (about 60ml) of pesto, then mix them until evenly coated with the pasta. After mixing the ingredients, the pasta should turn green. Serve and eat immediately.
Step 2. Add the pesto to a bowl of soup
Tomato soup, potato soup and many other types of vegetable soups or minestrone are dishes whose flavor can be particularly well enriched by pesto. Pour a spoonful of pesto into the soup bowl and stir, or pour a spoonful of fresh pesto over the soup to garnish. Alternatively, the seasoning can be added during the preparation of the soup itself so that its flavor can be perceived with greater intensity.
Step 3. Sprinkle diluted pesto over cooked chicken or steak to use as a dip
Add 1-2 tablespoons of water to the pesto to dilute it. Cut and plate the chicken or steak as you like, then pour the pesto over the meat before serving. The pesto will enhance the flavor in a fresh and genuine way.
Use pesto to garnish the meat immediately after cooking it to enrich the flavor
Step 4. Use the pesto to garnish or season the vegetables
Pesto goes well with any type of vegetable and vegetable, from potatoes to broccoli. Pour a generous spoonful over steamed or grilled vegetables to use as a healthy alternative to butter. Pesto is still great for flavoring vegetables and greens, but it is also rich in nutrients.
Step 5. Add pesto to a sandwich
Pesto is able to flavor even the simplest of sandwiches. You can spread it directly on bread or combine it with another topping, such as mayonnaise. Fill the sandwich as you like (for example with cooked or raw ham) and add all the ingredients you want.
Step 6. Replace the tomato sauce with pesto to make pizza
Pesto has a naturally more intense taste, so use just a couple of spoonfuls to start and make any adjustments. Sprinkle it evenly over the raw dough and add the other toppings. Parmesan and sliced chicken or tomatoes make great toppings for pesto pizza. Place it in the oven, then let it cool before cutting and serving.
Method 3 of 3: Using Pesto to Prepare Aperitifs, Appetizers and Snacks
Step 1. Add the pesto to the bread dough before baking
If you prefer to make bread at home, incorporating 120ml of pesto into the dough can enrich the flavor. All you have to do is add the pesto together with the dry ingredients of the dough before putting it to rise. Bread with pesto is excellent to accompany soups and hearty second courses.
Step 2. Mix the pesto with the sauce of your choice
Pesto can greatly enrich sauces like guacamole, sour cream, and hummus. Just mix a spoonful with a ready-made gravy and serve it with crackers or croutons.
Step 3. Pour a dollop of pesto over unsalted popcorn
Not only does it help flavor them, it also allows you to take in healthy fats. Measure 60ml of pesto and pour it into a bag or bowl of popcorn. Add a generous portion of grated Parmesan. Shake the popcorn and serve it hot.
