What does pesto taste like?
Pesto tastes herby, garlicky and cheesy: fresh basil blended with pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic and olive oil, so it's green and fragrant but also rich and salty.
Pesto
basil, garlic and cheese
Classic pesto comes from Genoa: basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan or pecorino and olive oil, pounded or blended into a loose green paste. The basil is sweet and a little peppery, the cheese brings salt and savoriness, the nuts make it rich and the raw garlic gives it a bite. Fresh pesto is bright green and smells like summer; jarred pesto is duller and more oily. Restaurants also make spins with arugula, kale, walnuts or pistachios.
Where you’ll see it
Tossed with pasta (trofie, gnocchi, linguine), spread on sandwiches and pizza, swirled into minestrone, and drizzled over burrata, tomatoes and grilled chicken. A menu that says alla genovese usually means basil pesto.
Order it if you like garlicky, cheesy, herb-packed sauces.
Quick questions
- Does pesto have nuts?
- Classic pesto uses pine nuts, and some versions swap in walnuts, almonds or pistachios. If you have a nut allergy, always ask.
- Why does pesto sometimes taste bitter?
- Usually from over-blending the basil or using a harsh olive oil. Old basil and too much raw garlic can also make it sharp.