Basil Pesto alla Genovese - 7.9 oz

Toss it with hot pasta, stir it into a cold summer pasta salad or spread it on a pizza base before the toppings go on. It also works as a sandwich spread or as a dip for appetizers. Shoppers describe the flavour as rich and balanced, and some say it reminds them of the pesto they ate in Italy.

Alongside the pine nuts, our recipe uses Brazil nuts, and it is thickened with potato starch rather than any wheat or gluten-containing grain. Because it contains cheese, this pesto is not vegan. At Cucina & Amore we also make a separate Vegan & Nut Free Basil Pesto, which is a different recipe from this one.

Store the jar in a cool, dry place and refrigerate it once opened. Made in Peru.

Ingredients: BASIL, SUNFLOWER OIL, WATER, BRAZIL NUTS, GRANA PADANO CHEESE, PARMESAN CHEESE, POTATO STARCH, SALT, GARLIC, PINE NUTS, SUGAR, CITRIC ACID AND ASCORBIC ACID.

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Common Questions

Is there a jarred pesto that doesn't need to be refrigerated?
Yes, our Cucina & Amore Pesto alla Genovese is shelf-stable, so it is sold at room temperature and keeps in a cool, dry cupboard until you open it. Once the jar is open, it goes in the fridge. Ours comes in a 7.9 oz (225 g) jar and is made with no preservatives. Many of our customers keep a jar on hand for easy weeknight meals. A few find it tastes less fresh than refrigerated pesto, while others say it tastes surprisingly fresh for a jarred pesto.

What is in traditional pesto alla Genovese?
Pesto alla Genovese, the sauce from Genoa in northern Italy, is built on basil, garlic, pine nuts, grated hard cheese, salt and oil, traditionally pounded together in a mortar. In Genoa that usually means Parmigiano Reggiano with Pecorino and Ligurian extra virgin olive oil. Our Cucina & Amore Pesto alla Genovese keeps the basil, garlic and hard-cheese base, using Grana Padano and Parmesan, and we season it with sunflower oil. We use Brazil nuts along with pine nuts, and potato starch gives the sauce its body. Shoppers often describe the flavour as rich and balanced without being overpowering, and some say it reminds them of pesto they ate in Italy.

What can I use jarred pesto for besides pasta?
Our Cucina & Amore Pesto alla Genovese works as a sandwich spread and as a dip for appetizers, as well as tossed with pasta. Our shoppers also spread it on pizza and stir it into cold summer pasta salads. Basil pesto is also commonly swirled into soups, mixed into scrambled eggs or mashed potatoes, brushed over grilled vegetables, chicken or fish, or thinned with a little oil and lemon juice as a salad dressing. Families tell us their kids enjoy it.

Does Cucina & Amore Pesto alla Genovese contain nuts? Which ones?
Yes, our Pesto alla Genovese contains two tree nuts: Brazil nuts and pine nuts. Brazil nuts appear earlier in the ingredient list than pine nuts, and since ingredients are listed by weight, the jar holds more Brazil nut than pine nut. It also contains milk, from the Grana Padano and Parmesan cheese.

Is Cucina & Amore Pesto alla Genovese vegan or dairy free?
No, our Pesto alla Genovese is vegetarian, but it is neither vegan nor dairy free because it is made with Grana Padano and Parmesan cheese. For a plant-based pesto, we make a separate Vegan & Nut Free Basil Pesto (4 Pack) with a different recipe, which we describe as vegan, dairy free, nut free, gluten free and kosher.

Is Cucina & Amore Pesto alla Genovese gluten free?
Yes, we make our Pesto alla Genovese gluten free. The ingredients contain no wheat or other gluten-containing grains, and the sauce is thickened with potato starch. The full list is basil, sunflower oil, water, Brazil nuts, Grana Padano cheese, Parmesan cheese, potato starch, salt, garlic, pine nuts, sugar, citric acid and ascorbic acid. It is also made not from GMO ingredients.

Where is Cucina & Amore Pesto alla Genovese made?
Our Pesto alla Genovese is produced in Peru. The recipe follows the Genoese style of basil pesto, prepared with pounded basil, crushed garlic, grated hard cheese and pine nuts, which we call an ancestral Italian pasta sauce.