Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce Recipe (2024)

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Vegan Sun Dried Tomato pesto sauce recipe or “Pesto Rosso: – the classic Italian condiment from Sicily made with sun dried tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, almonds or pine nuts and smooth extra virgin olive oil. Easy to make, fragrant, sweet and savory, garlicky and super delicious.

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Ahhh, the magic of a sauce coating some good noodles, a thick spread on a sandwich, pizza or drizzled over your favorite things. Irresistible!

What is Sun Dried Tomato Pesto?

Aka “Pesto Rosso” or a red pesto of Sicilian origin different from the Genoese pesto by the main ingredient: sun dried tomatoes versus basil. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to Italian cuisine however, and some cooks (like yours truly) prefer to add basil to a red pesto as well but not as the main ingredient. You’ll also find variations containing olives because Sicily has olive trees all over the place to that naturally makes sense.

Dinner doesn’t get much simpler than whipping up a pesto sauce to toss with some pasta, right?! If you have a small food processor and know how to boil water, you are legit!

What to serve with

  • tossed in a pasta salad
  • bruschetta
  • in a focaccia sandwich
  • vegan crusty bread
  • on thin crust pizza topped with vegan mozzarella.

Storage

Things packed in oil store well for quite some time. Keep the jar refrigerated until needed and remember to bring to room temperature before using it so the oil emulsifies and it’s easy to use.

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Variations

  • Different Nuts – Swap out the pine nuts for almond, walnuts even pistachios.
  • Balsamic – Go over the top by adding some balsamic vinegar reduction into the mix.
  • Make it WFPB – Make sure to start with plain sun dried tomatoes, (organic if possible) that are Not packed in oil. You’ll find them in a little pouch usually or in the bulk section at the market. Rehydrate those with hot water that you’ll save to use in place of the oil. You’ll get lots of flavor that way, however the final color won’t be quite as bright red as the classic version with oil.

P.S. If you make this recipe make sure to come back here to rate it, snap a photo and tag me with #VeggieSociety on Instagram, it always makes my day ~ Florentina Xo’s

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce Recipe (4)

5 from 1 vote

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce

Vegan Sun dried tomato pesto sauce recipe or “ Pesto Rosso “ - the classic Italian condiment made with sun dried tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts and smooth extra virgin olive oil. Instructions for the WFPB version included.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Soaking:20 minutes mins

Total Time:10 minutes mins

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Drain the tomatoes very well and add them to the bowl of a food processor together with the pine nuts, vegan parmesan, basil leaves, oregano, garlic and olive oil. Process until smooth to your liking. Add a splash of water or more olive oil if you need to stretch out the sauce a little. Season to taste with sea salt and store in a jar in the refrigerator.

WFPB Version:

  • To make this pesto 100% WFPB diet appropriate you’ll need to start with plain sun dried tomatoes (not packed in oil). Add them to a small bowl and cover with one cup of hot water. Soak for 20 minutes until the tomatoes are rehydrated. Strain and reserve the water.

  • Add the tomatoes with the rest of the ingredients to the bowl of a food processor (No Oil). Pour in some of the reserved water and process until smooth to your liking. Season to taste with sea salt and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 81mg | Potassium: 1145mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 585IU | Vitamin C: 12.6mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 4.1mg

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 293kcal

Author: Florentina

Plant-Based Sauces:

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is sun dried tomato pesto made of? ›

This quick, 6-ingredient sun dried tomato pesto is the perfect blend of sweet sun dried tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese and olive oil. I love it tossed with rigatoni pasta and fresh mozzarella cheese.

Is sun dried tomato pesto the same as paste? ›

(a) pesto is the Italian word for paste (b) most of us think “basil, pinenut, garlic, parmesan, EVOO” when we hear the word, but pesto could be any of hundreds of pasty substances (c) in fact a pesto made with sundried tomatoes, garlic, EVOO and some grated cheese is quite good (d) so if you have tomato paste you have ...

What are the ingredients in Aldi sun dried tomato pesto? ›

Pesto Rosso Made With Extra Virgin Olive Oil (27%), Rehydrated Sundried Tomatoes, Basil, Pecorino Romano Pdo Cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano Pdo Cheese And Pine Nuts.

How long does sun dried tomato pesto last after opening? ›

Made according to an authentic Italian recipe, this wonderfully intense pesto captures the flavor of sun-dried tomatoes perfectly. Shake well before use. Once opened keep refrigerated and use within two weeks.

What is the shelf life of sundried tomato pesto? ›

Sun-dried tomato pesto can be stored in a lidded container or glass jar for up to 2 months in the refrigerator. You can also freeze them in two tablespoon cubes for up to 6 months.

Is sun-dried tomato pesto good for you? ›

Incorporating sun-dried tomatoes into your diet not only adds a burst of flavour to your dishes but also provides a myriad of health benefits. From their antioxidant-rich content to their potential to promote heart health and protect your skin and eyes, these little gems are worth including in your culinary repertoire.

What's the difference between tomato pesto and regular pesto? ›

Traditionally speaking, the only difference between green and red pesto is that the former gets its trademark colour from basil, while the latter gets its fiery colour from tomatoes.

Is sun-dried tomato pesto good on pizza? ›

The mouth-watering umami of mushrooms, artichokes, sun-dried tomato pesto and more make this one truly incredible pizza. It's a delicious plant-based meal everyone is sure to love.

What happened to Aldi pesto? ›

Problem: The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (peanut). The recall only affects jars of these products which do not state 'may contain peanuts' on either the lid or in the product label allergen listing.

How is pesto so cheap? ›

Some producers cut corners further by simply using a generic "hard cheese." Oil is another ingredient where huge cost savings can be made. While small producers use the highest-quality extra-virgin olive oil, big producers replace some or all of it with much cheaper sunflower oil.

Are sun-dried tomatoes just dehydrated tomatoes? ›

Essentially, yes. Both are dehydrated, just through different methods—one is left out in the sun and wind, and one is placed in a dehydrator. Both sap the water out of the tomato, leaving a more concentrated flavor. The traditional method requires a lot more work.

What can I use if I don't have enough basil for pesto? ›

When fresh basil isn't in season, it can be really pricey or even impossible to find. I like to use kale, spinach, or arugula in its place. You can find the kale variation I like to use in this pesto pasta salad recipe.

What makes sun-dried tomatoes different? ›

Due to the evaporated moisture, sun-dried tomatoes become darker and pleasantly chewy, often packed in oil to preserve their bite. But the oil serves another purpose: it can be used to add more flavor to dishes that call for olive oil.

What is the best substitute for pine nuts in pesto? ›

Macadamia nuts are a great alternative to pine nuts because they have a similar texture, color, and flavor. Macadamia nuts offer a creamy, buttery flavor that is incredible in pesto.

Is tomato pesto the same as regular pesto? ›

Traditionally speaking, the only difference between green and red pesto is that the former gets its trademark colour from basil, while the latter gets its fiery colour from tomatoes.

What is pesto made of? ›

Traditional pesto is made with basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, salt, and Parmesan (or another type of hard Italian cheese, such as Pecorino). You can prepare it with a mortar and pestle (this is the traditional method) or using a blender/food processor.

What is the difference between green pesto and tomato pesto? ›

Traditional green pesto includes lots of fresh basil, along with Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic and olive oil. Red pesto, on the other hand, is flavored with sun-dried tomatoes and roasted red peppers.

What's the difference between tomato pesto and pesto? ›

Tomato pesto differs from traditional basil pesto in that it incorporates ripe tomatoes as a primary ingredient, giving it a rich, tangy flavor. Traditional basil pesto, on the other hand, is made primarily with fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil.

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