Authentic Italian Pesto

The Evolving world of Pesto

_{Pesto sauce ingredients. Note that the garlic above should be enough to satisfy the needs of the island of Sicily.}

Being a third-generation Sicilian American, pesto sauces were not common in my family. Sure my grandmother had all the ingredients: Fresh basil from the garden, good extra virgin olive oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano and pine nuts (a Sicilian favorite) from the groceria. But it just wasn't in the family tradition. Curious, I tried it in local restaurants and it was good, but I still did not understand why people raved about this "raw" sauce. However during my first trip to Italy I tried it and ever since I've been a huge pesto fan and brought my knowledge of it back home. Here in the States "pesto" simply means a green basil sauce and even in Italy the most famous pesto making area is along the Liguria. However just like most Italian cuisine, regional variation is the spice of life and now pesto recipes from other regions are getting well-deserved recognition. Some even going on the export market for those of us who can't hop on a plane when we get a craving. Pesto purists may deride the overuse of the term, but these other sauces are loaded with local flavor and ingredients and are demanding to be noticed.

Traditional or "Green" pesto:

Among the fresh herbs, basil is king. The name comes from the Greek "basileus" which means king or emperor and is an apt title for such a fragrant and delicious herb. Basil has been used for centuries in the Mediterranean, but it was the Genovese of the Italian Liguria that gave the world pesto. This is the sauce that comes to mind when one thinks of pesto. However just south of this famous port city is yet another pesto region that has made its mark. The Cinque Terre region hugs the rocky coast, producing a unique microclimate that gives its "Pesto Liguria" a slightly different quality than the well-known "Pesto Genovese". The subtle differences in climate in such a small area gives the basil and olive oil from this region a taste and mouth-feel that demands respect.

What these traditional pestos share is the care in preparation using time honored techniques that maintain the integrity of the flavor. Pesto from this region is prepared using the standard marble mortar and a wooden pestle that mashes the plant fibers into a paste - releasing the all-important oils and aromas into the pesto. Purists would never use a chef's knife to cut the basil or a food processor to blend the sauce. Just as important as the preparation of the pesto is what type of pasta is used. For Ligurians the pasta that comes to mind is Trofie, which is specially made to grab and hold on to the delicious sauce. As stated earlier, the Liguria does not have a monopoly on pesto, let alone the green variety. The Cinque Terre as well as regions as far flung as Sicily also known for other types of pesto sauce that maintain the Italian commandment of using the freshest local ingredients available.

"Red" and other non-traditional pesto:

While pesto that is any color but green may be unfamiliar, it is well worth sampling these other variations. And even among green pestos the ingredients can change from region to region and can include other "greens" such as broccoli, flat-leaf parsley and even mint. These varieties are a pleasant surprise to anyone who thinks they know pesto and are looking for something different. Also many of these types can be faithfully reproduced in your own kitchen and are a great way to experiment with the other green pestos.

Red pesto, which contains either fresh or sun-dried tomatoes has become very popular and is sold alongside its green counterpart in Italy and abroad. The variety made in the Cinque Terre adds sun-dried tomatoes to an otherwise traditional pesto, but it takes on a whole new character from the intense, bright yet earthy flavor of the tomatoes. Sicilian pestos are a whole different world and can contain ingredients like capers, chilies, raisins, anchovies, fennel and mint. These southern pestos are more rich and thick than their Ligurian counterparts and are often spicy to accommodate Sicilian tastes.

Many of these "non-traditional" pestos use toasted pine nuts instead of fresh, which adds a little complexity to the sauce. In fact many regional pestos, green or red combine or substitute the expensive pine nuts with a locally grown nut such as pistachios or, as in the popular Trapanese pesto from Sicily, almonds.

Buying Pesto:

Most of the pesto sold commercially will not hold up to a pesto lover's standards because of cost cutting measures. Pine nuts are very expensive; so many producers use the cheaper (and less flavorful) cashews, which has a similar texture. Some use soybean or canola oil instead of olive oil and nearly all ofthem contain added salt and other "flavorings". A quick glance at the ingredients will tell youwhich ones to avoid. Even well known jarred pestos that contain proper ingredients miss the mark in flavor and are often bland. If you are looking for the flavor that you had in Italy you have the option of making it fresh (remember to use the best ingredients) or buy from a specialty shop. Many excellent imported pestos are now available online straight from the source if you don't mind paying a premium for it. However if you are looking for a specific taste in your pesto, take the time and make it at home where you can control the flavors by what you add to it. Remember that the key to pesto, and all other Italian food is this: keep it simple and keep it fresh.

 A Pesto recipe so easy It will take you (almost) more time to open a can ... Unlike many Italian-American recipes, this pesto recipe does not use garlic:

Use only fresh basil leaves.Put leaves in the blender. Add pine nuts (pinoli).  Add ½ glass of water and ½ glass of olive oil. Blend until smooth. Add parmigian cheese, (or Romano / Pecorino cheese for a mor pungent flavor) black pepper and salt to taste and blend. Pour on the pasta of your choice. This too looks better served in a Deruta hand-painted bowl!

Artcle By Justin Demetri - Recipe By Paolo