Whether you use basil from your garden or a farmer’s market, nothing tastes better in the summer than fresh pesto. Heck, it’s so good there’s no shame in store bought, pre-made pesto game either. And there’s sooooo much more to do with pesto than just putting it on pasta. Below is a quick and easy pesto recipe followed by five quick and easy ways to incorporate it into your summer dishes. Bon appetit!
Pesto Sauce
Super Simple Summer Pesto:
Ingredients
-2 cups basil
-2 cloves garlic
-½ cup olive oil (add more if needed)
-½ cup grated Parmesan
-Salt and pepper to taste
-Optional 2 tablespoons roasted pine nuts
Directions
Pulse basil, garlic and Parmesan in a food processor while slowly streaming in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Pesto Pizza
Replace your regular pizza sauce with pesto for a yummy twist. Summer tip, flat bread will probably fit into your toaster oven so you don’t have to turn your big oven on.
Pesto Veggies
After they are cooked, try tossing grilled or roasted vegetables in a few tablespoons of pesto. It’s an easy way to dress up a simple vegetable dish.
Pesto Chicken Salad
For every pound of cooked, shredded chicken mix in 1/4 cup mayo and 1/4 cup pesto. Variation ideas, try adding chopped tomatoes, avocado, red onion, or olives. Eat this chicken salad on a bed of greens, by itself, or on a sandwich for a perfect summer lunch.
Pesto Baked Eggs
You can grease cupcake holders or ramekins to crack eggs in. Then add a dollop of pesto to each. Pop them in the toaster oven at 350 until eggs whites are solid. Viola, you have an easy but healthy breakfast or brunch.
Pesto Mayo Sandwich Spread
For a quick but transforming sandwich spread, mix 1/4 cup mayo with 1/4 cup pesto. Use this on everything from grilled cheeses to subs to burgers.
What fun ways do you incorporate pesto into your summer meals?
Great ideas Lacey!! Pesto on flatbread in the toaster sounds so easy and delicious!! And I’ve never made chicken salad with pesto– sounds like a big improvement. And– love you photo of the pesto in the jar– so pretty!
Thanks Rhonda! Since I wrote this post I’ve thought of 1000 more ways I want to experiment with pesto. It just screams summertime to me!
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