There is great pleasure in making your own fresh pesto, but it can work out more expensive than buying it ready-made. Here Laura Rowe tests out three of the best basil-based sauces.
Waitrose Green Pesto
Two of the best things about a proper basil pesto are its vibrant green colour and its strong aroma, and with this fresh pesto from Waitrose you get both. It is peppered with whole pine nuts, some with a good bit of colour from toasting, which provide lovely little bursts of flavour and texture. You can also see and taste lots of finely grated cheese, but the body of the pesto is a smooth, vivid green sauce. The garlic really packs a punch both in terms of scent and taste but you can still taste the heady, fresh basil.
Best for? Those that like it fresh and natural. This is about as close to making it yourself as it gets, but of course isn’t as convenient as the jarred stuff which will wait in the cupboard happily until you are ready to use it. This tub is found in the refrigerated deli section at Waitrose and only lasts two days once opened.
Lovefood.com tip: Because of its freshness this pesto would taste just as good as a dip with hot crusty bread or spooned over grilled chicken as part of a main meal.
How much? A 145g tub costs £2.19 at Ocado and Waitrose.
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Pesto alla Genovese
This jar stood out on the supermarket shelf for its roughly chopped basil leaves. It was the darkest in colour in our taste test but again had that homemade feel thanks to whole pine nuts. It is very loose in texture with lots of extra virgin olive oil and has a slight piquancy from some white wine vinegar, which helped to cut through the richness.
Best for? Grown-ups. Kids won’t appreciate the texture or the saltiness but adults are sure to love it bound through pasta as it is or mixed through with a bit of cream.
Lovefood.com tip: A pesto like this would work well with a cooling cream cheese. Try combining it with mascarpone and stuffing it in a chicken breast, or gently stirring a spoonful through a plain risotto to add a kick of flavour and colour.
How much? £2.09 for a 190g jar from Sainsbury’s.
Sacla Organic Basil Pesto
Sacla was one of the first companies to introduce jarred Italian store cupboard essentials, such as pesto and antipasti, to our supermarket shelves. We tried the classic: organic basil pesto. Look on the back label and you might be surprised at a few of the ingredients – after all a traditional pesto doesn’t usually include cashew nuts or potato flakes – but the flavour is good. It has a strong cheesy smell and taste, but with a good herby hit, creating a nicely rounded and balanced pesto. It’s thick, smooth texture makes it ideal for spreading onto toast.
Best for? Those that like it organic but don’t have time to make their own. Sacla is a reliable brand and you know what you are getting here. Plus, it will even keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge after opening.
Lovefood.com tip: Try spreading over monkfish tails and wrapping in Parma ham before roasting in the oven for a posh pesto supper.
If you do fancy making your own but want to keep the cost down, try experimenting with the leaves you use. How about using wild garlic or rocket instead of basil? Pine nuts can also be costly so try toasting sunflower seeds. Remember, you don’t need to season with salt because the hard cheese you use will be savoury enough.
How much? A 190g jar costs £2.75 from Tesco and Ocado, and £2.73 at Sainsbury’s and Waitrose.
More:
Best of three: Tomato and basil pasta sauces