Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce Recipe (2024)

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Vegan Sun Dried Tomato pesto sauce recipe or “Pesto Rosso: – the classic Italian condiment from Sicily made with sun dried tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, almonds or pine nuts and smooth extra virgin olive oil. Easy to make, fragrant, sweet and savory, garlicky and super delicious.

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Ahhh, the magic of a sauce coating some good noodles, a thick spread on a sandwich, pizza or drizzled over your favorite things. Irresistible!

What is Sun Dried Tomato Pesto?

Aka “Pesto Rosso” or a red pesto of Sicilian origin different from the Genoese pesto by the main ingredient: sun dried tomatoes versus basil. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to Italian cuisine however, and some cooks (like yours truly) prefer to add basil to a red pesto as well but not as the main ingredient. You’ll also find variations containing olives because Sicily has olive trees all over the place to that naturally makes sense.

Dinner doesn’t get much simpler than whipping up a pesto sauce to toss with some pasta, right?! If you have a small food processor and know how to boil water, you are legit!

What to serve with

  • tossed in a pasta salad
  • bruschetta
  • in a focaccia sandwich
  • vegan crusty bread
  • on thin crust pizza topped with vegan mozzarella.

Storage

Things packed in oil store well for quite some time. Keep the jar refrigerated until needed and remember to bring to room temperature before using it so the oil emulsifies and it’s easy to use.

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Variations

  • Different Nuts – Swap out the pine nuts for almond, walnuts even pistachios.
  • Balsamic – Go over the top by adding some balsamic vinegar reduction into the mix.
  • Make it WFPB – Make sure to start with plain sun dried tomatoes, (organic if possible) that are Not packed in oil. You’ll find them in a little pouch usually or in the bulk section at the market. Rehydrate those with hot water that you’ll save to use in place of the oil. You’ll get lots of flavor that way, however the final color won’t be quite as bright red as the classic version with oil.

P.S. If you make this recipe make sure to come back here to rate it, snap a photo and tag me with #VeggieSociety on Instagram, it always makes my day ~ Florentina Xo’s

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce Recipe (4)

5 from 1 vote

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce

Vegan Sun dried tomato pesto sauce recipe or “ Pesto Rosso “ - the classic Italian condiment made with sun dried tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts and smooth extra virgin olive oil. Instructions for the WFPB version included.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Soaking:20 minutes mins

Total Time:10 minutes mins

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Drain the tomatoes very well and add them to the bowl of a food processor together with the pine nuts, vegan parmesan, basil leaves, oregano, garlic and olive oil. Process until smooth to your liking. Add a splash of water or more olive oil if you need to stretch out the sauce a little. Season to taste with sea salt and store in a jar in the refrigerator.

WFPB Version:

  • To make this pesto 100% WFPB diet appropriate you’ll need to start with plain sun dried tomatoes (not packed in oil). Add them to a small bowl and cover with one cup of hot water. Soak for 20 minutes until the tomatoes are rehydrated. Strain and reserve the water.

  • Add the tomatoes with the rest of the ingredients to the bowl of a food processor (No Oil). Pour in some of the reserved water and process until smooth to your liking. Season to taste with sea salt and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 81mg | Potassium: 1145mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 585IU | Vitamin C: 12.6mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 4.1mg

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 293kcal

Author: Florentina

Plant-Based Sauces:

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is sun dried tomato pesto made of? ›

This quick, 6-ingredient sun dried tomato pesto is the perfect blend of sweet sun dried tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese and olive oil. I love it tossed with rigatoni pasta and fresh mozzarella cheese.

Can I use sun dried tomato pesto instead of paste? ›

Mix vinegar, olive oil, chopped herbs and Sundried Tomato Pesto for the perfect salad dressing. 6. Use as a substitute for tomato paste in cottage pie, stews, meatballs, chilli con carne and more…. If you are a Banting fan, then we strongly advise you give this recipe for meatballs a try.

What are the ingredients in Aldi sun dried tomato pesto? ›

Pesto Rosso Made With Extra Virgin Olive Oil (27%), Rehydrated Sundried Tomatoes, Basil, Pecorino Romano Pdo Cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano Pdo Cheese And Pine Nuts.

Is red pesto the same as sun-dried tomato paste? ›

Made in much the same way as a green pesto, red pesto gets its color from sun-dried tomatoes and roasted red peppers, plus the normal pesto ingredients of cheese, pine nuts and an herb, in this case fresh oregano.

What is the shelf life of sundried tomato pesto? ›

We recommend storing the Bella Sun Luci Pesto, Bruschetta, and Chipotle Sun Dried Tomato products in the refrigerator, once opened and use within ten days.

How long does sun-dried tomato pesto last after opening? ›

Made according to an authentic Italian recipe, this wonderfully intense pesto captures the flavor of sun-dried tomatoes perfectly. Shake well before use. Once opened keep refrigerated and use within two weeks.

Is sun dried tomato pesto good for you? ›

Incorporating sun-dried tomatoes into your diet not only adds a burst of flavour to your dishes but also provides a myriad of health benefits. From their antioxidant-rich content to their potential to promote heart health and protect your skin and eyes, these little gems are worth including in your culinary repertoire.

Is sun dried tomato pesto good on pizza? ›

The mouth-watering umami of mushrooms, artichokes, sun-dried tomato pesto and more make this one truly incredible pizza. It's a delicious plant-based meal everyone is sure to love.

What's the difference between tomato pesto and pesto? ›

Traditionally speaking, the only difference between green and red pesto is that the former gets its trademark colour from basil, while the latter gets its fiery colour from tomatoes.

What happened to Aldi pesto? ›

(May 17, 2018) – In cooperation with BLM Prod. u Vertriebsges. mbH & Co KG, ALDI has voluntarily recalled Priano Rosso Pesto Sauce due to the potential presence of eggs and milk resulting from product mislabeling. This product may cause an allergic reaction in customers who have an egg or milk allergy.

How is pesto so cheap? ›

Some producers cut corners further by simply using a generic "hard cheese." Oil is another ingredient where huge cost savings can be made. While small producers use the highest-quality extra-virgin olive oil, big producers replace some or all of it with much cheaper sunflower oil.

Are sun dried tomatoes just dehydrated tomatoes? ›

Sun-dried tomatoes are tomatoes that have been dehydrated by being placed in the sun, a dehydrator, or an oven. When they're dried, tomatoes shrink up, losing 90% of their weight from the loss of their water content. Sun-dried tomatoes are sweet, tangy, and chewy, and used to garnish dishes like salads and pasta.

How to jazz up pesto pasta? ›

Add some protein - Chicken pesto pasta is a classic so add some cooked chicken breast or thighs into the creamy sauce. Some golden brown pancetta or bacon mixed through would be a great addition too.

What can I do with a jar of red pesto? ›

10 things you didn't know you could do with pesto
  1. Top a pizza. Replace the classic tomato sauce on the base of your pizza with vibrant, herby pesto for a tasty twist on a homemade takeaway. ...
  2. Turn into a dip. ...
  3. Salad base. ...
  4. Go beyond basil. ...
  5. Upgrade your breakfast. ...
  6. Bake a tart. ...
  7. Garnish a soup. ...
  8. Freshen up roasts.

Is tomato pesto the same as regular pesto? ›

Traditionally speaking, the only difference between green and red pesto is that the former gets its trademark colour from basil, while the latter gets its fiery colour from tomatoes.

What is pesto made of? ›

Traditional pesto is made with basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, salt, and Parmesan (or another type of hard Italian cheese, such as Pecorino). You can prepare it with a mortar and pestle (this is the traditional method) or using a blender/food processor.

What is the difference between green pesto and tomato pesto? ›

Traditional green pesto includes lots of fresh basil, along with Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic and olive oil. Red pesto, on the other hand, is flavored with sun-dried tomatoes and roasted red peppers.

References

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