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.

Can I use sun dried tomato pesto instead of paste? ›

Mix vinegar, olive oil, chopped herbs and Sundried Tomato Pesto for the perfect salad dressing. 6. Use as a substitute for tomato paste in cottage pie, stews, meatballs, chilli con carne and more…. If you are a Banting fan, then we strongly advise you give this recipe for meatballs a try.

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.

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

Water, Sun Dried Tomatoes (Sulphites), Tomato Paste, Basil, Soybean Oil, Parmesan And Romano Cheeses (Milk), Onions, Garlic, Red Bell Peppers, Olive Oil, Salt, Red Wine Vinegar, Dehydrated Onions, Sugar, Oleoresin Rosemary, Citric Acid, Natural Flavour.

What is the shelf life of sundried tomato pesto? ›

We recommend storing the Bella Sun Luci Pesto, Bruschetta, and Chipotle Sun Dried Tomato products in the refrigerator, once opened and use within ten days.

Why is pesto so expensive? ›

Its scarcity, plus the fact that the plants are picked roots, soil, and all to ensure that only juvenile leaves make it into pesto, makes it extraordinarily expensive and something that only premium, artisan pesto makers can justify using.

What's the difference between tomato pesto and 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 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 happened to Aldi pesto? ›

(May 17, 2018) – In cooperation with BLM Prod. u Vertriebsges. mbH & Co KG, ALDI has voluntarily recalled Priano Rosso Pesto Sauce due to the potential presence of eggs and milk resulting from product mislabeling. This product may cause an allergic reaction in customers who have an egg or milk allergy.

Is supermarket pesto healthy? ›

On its own, pesto is a healthy ingredient, especially if made fresh and contains good quality olive oil. It's a fairly unprocessed sauce, but it can have levels of salt that are verging on high, so a healthier option is to go for 'low-salt' varieties.

Is sun-dried tomatoes the same as pesto? ›

While nothing like basil, sun-dried tomatoes are actually a great stand-in when it comes to pesto. They're a punchy, sweet-and-savory umami bomb. When paired with walnuts, salty cheese, a few garlic cloves, and plenty of olive oil, you have a fabulous cold-season pesto at the ready.

Does sun-dried tomato pesto contain nuts? ›

MAY CONTAIN: TRACES OF OTHER NUTS OR PEANUTS.

Storage informaation: Store in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight. Once opened, keep refrigerated and consume within 2 weeks. If safety button on cap is up do not use.

What is a substitute for tomato paste in pesto? ›

You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

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 are sun-dried tomatoes made from? ›

Sun-dried tomatoes are ripe tomatoes that lose most of their water content after spending a majority of their drying time in the sun. These tomatoes are usually pre-treated with sulfur dioxide or salt before being placed in the sun in order to improve colour and appearance.

References

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