Sicilian Pistachio Pesto | Pesto di Pistacchi Recipe
Pistachio pesto is a delicious and versatile condiment; it can be used as a pasta sauce, on a sandwich, or as a stuffing for involtini meat rolls.
How to Make Pistachio Pesto
The easiest way to make the pesto is using a food processor or blender. Normally we don’t recommend making Pesto alla Genovese in a blender, as the intense chopping tends to cook the delicate basil, but in this case there is a minimal amount of basil used and the blending won’t noticeably detract from the flavor. Try to mix the ingredients by gently pulsing the machine, though.
Some blenders and food processors have a difficult time chopping nuts. If you find yourself having trouble, one trick is to gradually add a little bit of water until the blades have enough liquid to grip onto. Don’t worry about the pesto being watery, it will all emulsify together in the end as long as you add the minimum amount necessary to mix the ingredients.
Another thing you can do to make the mixing easier on your blender is to double the recipe and make a larger amount. Having more mass can help the blades grip the condiment.
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PESTO DI PISTACCHI RECIPE
Makes: About 1 ¼ cups of pesto
Cook Time: 10 minutes
For this recipe, you will need:
¾ cup (100g) shelled pistachios (preferably raw, but roasted will work)
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 tbsp. (10g) pine nuts
Extra-virgin olive oil
6 to 8 fresh basil leaves
2 oz. (55g) grated pecorino cheese, or to taste
Grated lemon zest, to taste
Salt
In a food processor, combine the shelled pistachios, garlic and pine nuts with a generous drizzle of olive oil. Blend the nuts into a crumble. The texture is largely up to you; we like ours a bit more on the crunchy side, but feel free to blend the nuts smoother.
Next, add the basil leaves and pecorino cheese. Pulse the food processor to gently mix them in. Continue to mix while adding some more olive oil, a little bit at a time, until you achieve a thick, creamy texture that you like.
Transfer the pesto into a bowl and season with grated lemon zest and salt to taste. Be sure to try the pesto before adding salt, especially if using salted pistachios. The pesto will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week. Keep the surface of the pesto covered in a thin layer of olive oil to prevent spoilage.
To serve the pesto as a pasta sauce, place one big, heaping spoonful per serving of pasta into a large mixing bowl. While the pasta cooks, thin the pesto with a little bit of pasta water and stir into a creamy sauce. Add the cooked pasta directly into the bowl and stir all together. Serve immediately.
Buon appetito!
Once you have some pistachio pesto, try using some for involtini meat rolls! On a pesto kick? Then you must try the classic Pesto alla Genovese!