Red pesto is a sauce made with tomatoes or red peppers, olive oil, garlic, and pine nuts. It is traditionally made with a mortar and pestle but can also be made in a food processor. Sicily is believed to have originated red tomato-based pesto, while Calabria likely invented pesto with red peppers. Non-Italian pestos can include a range of ingredient variations, and vegan options are available.
Red pesto is a sauce typically made with dried, fresh or charred tomatoes but sometimes with red peppers. Other common ingredients include olive oil, pine nuts and garlic. Some variations also call for basil leaves, balsamic vinegar, and grated hard cheese such as Parmesan. Red and green pestos are found all over the world, although Genoa is believed to have originated salsa verde. Red tomato-based pesto is thought to originate from Sicily, where it is known as pesto alla siciliana.
Pesto is the Italian word for sauce and is traditionally made with a mortar and pestle, but food processors are often more convenient. The ingredients are ground or processed together until creamy before incorporating the cheese and a little olive oil. While the green version of the sauce likely originated in Genoa, the red tomato variation is believed to come from Sicily, while Calabria likely invented pesto with red peppers.
A traditional Genoese pesto is made with basil leaves which give the sauce its distinctive green color. A red pesto from Sicily or Calabria reduces or eliminates the basil leaves in favor of a red ingredient such as dried tomatoes or red peppers. Pesto is commonly served on a pasta-like trenette or penne, pizza, or sliced beef.
A typical recipe for Sicilian red pesto calls for sun-dried tomatoes. Tomatoes are combined with herbs such as basil and parsley, minced garlic and chopped pine nuts or almonds. Parmesan, olive oil and salt to taste are further common ingredients. Chopped onion, red wine and balsamic vinegar are found in some variations. Instead of sun-dried tomatoes, a pesto made from charred tomatoes produces a deep red and almost purple-black sauce.
Another possible base for red pesto is red peppers. This version, also known as Calabrian pesto, originated in Calabria. The peppers can be roasted in the oven or over a gas flame before being peeled and chopped. Using potted roasted red peppers may be more convenient. Roasted peppers are usually blended with traditional pesto ingredients until a chunky sauce is formed.
Non-Italian pestos can include a range of ingredient variations. Some variations omit the pine nuts, while others replace the basil with spinach or another type of green vegetable. Cashews, walnuts and almonds are common substitutes for pine nuts. Mushrooms, black olives and lemon peel are further alternative flavors to pesto.
This type of pesto can be made vegan by substituting or eliminating any ingredients such as animal-derived cheese. Instead of cheese, you can use other pine nuts or another type of nut such as walnut or cashew. Some vegan red pestos will include miso paste because this adds saltiness that cheese normally complements.
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