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Olive pesto is a variation of traditional Italian pesto made with basil, olive oil, and pine nuts, but with the addition of olives. It can be used as a dressing for salads and pasta dishes, or as a spread on bread or crackers. The recipe can be customized with different types of olives, nuts, and herbs.
Pesto is an Italian condiment made from basil, olive oil and pine nuts mixed together in a smooth cream. This condiment is often used as a salad and pasta dressing in several European dishes. Olive pesto uses these same ingredients and adds a significant amount of olives, black or green or both, to the original recipe. Depending on the type of olive used, adding it to the pesto lends a richer color and flavor to the original recipe. Pasta dishes often call for this pesto to be served over spaghetti or fettuccine noodles, and sometimes olive pesto is sprinkled on crackers or focaccia bread or used as a salad dressing.
When traditional pesto is made, three main ingredients are used to bind together and make the actual sauce. The olive oil, which is the liquid part of the sauce, also provides half the creaminess to the pesto. Pine nuts, which are blended into the olive oil using a food processor or blender, also provide extra fat and creaminess. The basil adds flavor and color, but is sometimes left out in the olive pesto to be replaced by the equivalent amount of fresh olives. Other fresh herbs, such as mint, are sometimes used, but not often, in more traditional pesto recipes.
The olive pesto will still use olive oil, but will usually contain a little more oil due to the fat content of the added olives. Often green olives are used in this version of pesto to resemble the green color of traditional fresh basil pesto. Some pestos that require a large amount of olives sometimes use half black and half green olives, mixing the flavors and varying the taste and color. A small amount of sea salt is added to the olive pesto to enhance the flavor of the olives and olive oil, and also offer a smoother, more pleasant taste.
Other olive pesto variations include using almonds, cashews, and walnuts in place of pine nuts, creating a thicker, nuttier tasting base. These nuts are often roasted and ground into a flour before adding olive oil, olives and spices. The use of steamed cabbage is also another additional ingredient for some pestos and can be used in any pesto containing olives. More often than not, olive pesto can be extremely versatile, allowing for different variations with a wide range of ingredients.
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