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Home » Recipes » Dinner Recipes » Easy Pesto Rosso (Sun Dried Tomato Pesto)

Easy Pesto Rosso (Sun Dried Tomato Pesto)

Published: Mar 24, 2022 · Modified: Jan 19, 2023 by Lynn Polito · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

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Sun dried tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, and almonds are blended together to make this simple, rich, Pesto Rosso also known as sun dried tomato pesto. Serve this pesto on your favorite pasta, on top of grilled chicken, or slathered on a thick piece of sourdough bread!

The pesto rosso is in front and the olive oil is behind

Pesto is one of my favorite things to make! In the Summer, there is so much basil around, that you have to make pesto!

This pesto is delicious and rich, and a great change from the classic basil filled pesto. You can make this in the Winter or Summer, and it's perfect on a charcuterie board, or slathered on some dinner rolls.

Jump to:
  • What is Pesto Rosso?
  • Why You'll Love This Pesto
  • Ingredients You'll Need
  • What Type of Sun-Dried Tomatoes To Use
  • Equipment You'll Need
  • How To Make Pesto Rosso
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Variations
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Other Recipes To Try!
  • 📖 Recipe

What is Pesto Rosso?

Pesto rosso (meaning "Red Pesto" in Italian) is a pesto that originated in Sicily and has sun-dried tomatoes as the star ingredient. Unlike the classic "Pesto alla Genovese" which has basil as the star ingredient, pesto rosso uses only a little basil and mostly sun-dried tomatoes.

Another difference is that this pesto uses almonds instead of pine nuts. I love using almonds instead of pine nuts for a few reasons. Almonds are easier to find, and they are cheaper than pine nuts! So it's a win-win!

Why You'll Love This Pesto

  • It's a no cook recipe! This recipe doesn't require you to turn on the stove or the oven, it's a simple recipe and you only need your food processor for it!
  • It's versatile! You can add this pesto to pasta, fish, grilled chicken, or just slather it on some bread. It's great to add to a charcuterie board and enjoy with cheese.
  • It's easy to make! Add all the ingredients to a food processor and process until you reach the consistency you desire. Could not be easier!

Ingredients You'll Need

Ingredients for Pesto Rosso
  • Sun-dried tomatoes- one 7-ounce jar, packed in oil.
  • Fresh basil- Don't use dry basil. Fresh is best here.
  • Almonds- Roasted, not salted.
  • Garlic- 2 fresh cloves.
  • Balsamic Vinegar- To add a little acidity to the pesto.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil- Since we aren't cooking this pesto, you want a high quality oil.
  • Parmesan Cheese- Pesto isn't the same without cheese. It adds a lot of flavor and salt.

What Type of Sun-Dried Tomatoes To Use

You'll want sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil. The oil is flavored with oregano and the tomatoes have given off a lot of their flavor, so the oil is gold!

If you can't find oil packed sun-dried tomatoes and only have dried tomatoes, you'll need to rehydrate them and plump them up. To do that, add ½ cup of dried tomatoes to a bowl with 1 cup of boiling water. Let the tomatoes sit in the water until they plump up slightly.

If you are rehydrating tomatoes instead of using oil packed tomatoes, make sure to double the amount of oil you blend into the pesto.

A spoon is showing the pesto rosso

Equipment You'll Need

  • Measuring Cups
  • Food Processor
  • Mason Jars

How To Make Pesto Rosso

The basil and sun dried tomatoes are in the food processor
Step 1: Take the basil leaves off the basil stems.
The remaining ingredients are added to the food processor
Step 2: Place the sun-dried tomatoes, basil, almonds, garlic cloves, balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, and parmesan into the bowl of the food processor.
Blend the ingredients together
Step 3: Turn the food processor on for 2 minutes or until the pesto is the consistency you desire.
The pesto rosso is ready
Step 4: If you would like a smooth pesto, add a little more olive oil and allow the food processor to go for longer. If you prefer a chunky pesto, do not process the pesto for as long.

Serving Suggestions

  • Smear pesto on pizza dough as a pizza topping
  • Use this pesto in a pasta salad
  • Add this pesto to a chicken pesto pasta
  • Smear pesto on homemade sourdough bread
  • Spoon into a soup such as minestrone
  • Add pesto to focaccia
A bowl of pasta has the pesto rosso sauce on it

Variations

  • Make it vegan! Leave out the parmesan cheese or use nutritional yeast.
  • Change up the nuts! If you don't prefer almonds, you can use walnuts, or pine nuts instead of roasted almonds.
  • Make it spicy! I love all things spicy, so sometimes I add ½ teaspoon of red chili flakes for a spicy sauce.
  • Add more veggies! Add roasted red peppers, marinated artichokes, or oil packed olives to give an even richer flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does pesto rosso freeze well?

Yes! Pesto rosso freezes wonderfully! The easiest way to freeze pesto is to use a plastic ice cube tray. Place a tablespoon or two in each ice cube section and freeze. Once the pesto is frozen, take the pesto out of the ice cube tray and place them in an airtight container or a gallon sized Ziploc bag. Pesto will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready to use a cube, place it in a bowl and allow it to defrost.

How long does sun-dried tomato pesto last in the refrigerator?

This pesto will last up to one week in the refrigerator. If you would like it to last longer, add a little olive oil to the pesto and let the olive oil sit on top of the pesto. If the pesto rosso is covered with olive oil, it will last longer than if the pesto is exposed to the air.

What type of oil is best in pesto?

Extra virgin olive oil is best, but if you don't have extra virgin olive oil, you can use regular olive oil or avocado oil.

What types of cheese is best in pesto rosso?

A hard cheese is classic in any pesto. That would be parmesan, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, or Grana Padano. A cheese that melts easily such as mozzarella or cheddar would not hold up well in pesto.

My pesto solidified in the refrigerator, what do I do?

Oil solidifies when it gets cold, so that is normal! Leave the pesto at room temperature for at least an hour and the oil will liquify again.

Can I roast my own almonds?

Yes! If you cannot find roasted almonds in the grocery store, place the almonds on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake them at 325 degrees for 10-15 minutes, turning them every 5 minutes. Once the almonds start to smell nutty, they are done. Allow them to cool before adding them to the pesto.

An overhead view of the pesto rosso

Other Recipes To Try!

Did you love this Pesto Rosso? I'd so appreciate it if you would give this recipe a 5-star rating! That will help other hungry readers find my recipes!

And don't forget to tag me on social media here on Instagram or Facebook and share this recipe on Pinterest! Thanks for sharing this journey with me and enjoy these delicious recipes!

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📖 Recipe

The pesto rosso is in front and the olive oil is behind

Pesto Rosso (Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto)

Sun dried tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, and almonds are blended together to make this simple, rich, Pesto Rosso also known as sun dried tomato pesto. Serve this pesto on your favorite pasta, on top of grilled chicken, or slathered on a thick piece of sourdough bread!
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 12 Servings
Calories: 175kcal
Author: Lynn Polito

Equipment

  • Food Processor
  • Measuring Cups
  • Mason Jars

Ingredients

  • 7 oz Sun Dried Tomatoes Packed in oil
  • 1 cup Basil Fresh
  • ½ cup Almonds Roasted, Unsalted
  • 2 Garlic Cloves
  • 1 teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar
  • ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil Plus more if necessary
  • ½ cup Parmesan

Instructions

  • Remove the basil leaves from the stems.
  • Add the sun-dried tomatoes and their oil to the food processor.
  • Add the remaining ingredients to the food processor.
  • Turn the food processor on for 1-2 minutes until your desired consistency is reached. If the pesto is too chunky, add more olive oil, ¼ cup at a time.

Notes

  • The easiest way to freeze pesto is to use a plastic ice cube tray. Place a tablespoon or two in each ice cube section and freeze. Once the pesto is frozen, take the pesto out of the ice cube tray and place them in an airtight container or a gallon sized Ziploc bag. Pesto will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready to use a cube, place it in a bowl and allow it to defrost.
  • This pesto will last up to one week in the refrigerator. If you would like it to last longer, add a little olive oil to the pesto and let the olive oil sit on top of the pesto. If the pesto rosso is covered with olive oil, it will last longer than if the pesto is exposed to the air.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 85mg | Potassium: 623mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 283IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LynnsWayofLife or tag #lynnswayoflife!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rupali

    March 29, 2022 at 6:15 am

    5 stars
    Using almonds instead of pine nuts is a great idea, as I always have them on hand. This pesto was delicious on our Sunday sourdough and egg breakfast. Delicious!!!

    Reply
  2. Eileen Kelly

    March 27, 2022 at 10:43 pm

    5 stars
    This pesto beats any jar of pesto! The flavors were bold and what a great pasta dinner we had tonight. Just loved it!

    Reply
  3. Rachel

    March 27, 2022 at 6:27 pm

    5 stars
    This may very well be my new favorite pesto and pizza addition! So good!

    Reply
  4. Jennifer

    March 27, 2022 at 11:10 am

    5 stars
    There is so much flavor in this, it's almost unbelievable! I served it alongside cheese on a charcuterie board. It was a hit!

    Reply
  5. Angela

    March 25, 2022 at 3:05 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! I love it on grilled bread.

    Reply
  6. Linda

    March 25, 2022 at 1:39 am

    5 stars
    What a great idea to incorporate almonds in this pesto recipe. Love the flavors and texture!

    Reply
  7. Sherry

    March 25, 2022 at 12:21 am

    5 stars
    I made your easy pesto recipe to top on my grilled chicken and your pesto tastes amazing!! Trying to eat healthy is easy with all your great recipes!

    Reply

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Hey there! I'm Lynn and I'm based just outside of Boston. I'm a wife and mom of two with a passion for cooking and creating homemade food for my family.

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