Talk:Pesto

Add Warning?
Perhaps we can add some caution about not mixing too much in with the pasta. I once used fresh basil from our garden and made a big batch. I put way too much in with my spaghetti noodles and had the worst case of the runs afterwards. It must be treated somewhat differently than bolognese or alfredo cream sauce, in this way. dave 23:04, 6 Nov 2003 (UTC)


 * Haha it's true, I'm a pesto fiend and have learned through hard knocks my spot on limit for the stuff! With me, I'm rather certain it's the basil and not the olive oil, by the bye. Gwen Gale 23:28, 14 February 2007 (UTC)


 * It probibly wasn't the basil but the olive oil, and yeah, it's happened to me before too. Perhaps a warning is a good ideaGentgeen


 * Really...the olive oil, eh? Thanks.  Would it be because of too much olive oil or because it was old?  I sometimes had olive oil in the house that is paste the date.  BTW, I am definitely not alergic to olive oil I have it all the time.  dave


 * The only reason I thought of a warning was that I am working on the spice pages, and I always think about whether any warning is required for any spices, for whatever reason, spicy, too bitter, too strong, can cause heartburn, etc... dave 06:18, 7 Nov 2003 (UTC)


 * One more thing, there is nothing here about what to do with it. For the most common use of pesto (mixing with with noodles) some instruction should be given at the end of the recipe, like "toss with pasta", but a quantity should be given (ex. 1 Tbsp for every X cup of cooked pasta?).  You probably know more on the subject so I'll let you do it.  And you can throw in a warning there to go easy (also because fresh basil can be expensive).  dave 06:21, 7 Nov 2003 (UTC)

I didn't want to interfere, as a kitchen amateur, but isn't pesto traditionally a Genoese specialty (pesto alla Genovese)? maybe a mention that pesto is a way to preserve the glut of basil at the end of the season? Isn't the incorporation of cheese right into the sauce a modern innovation? What about the American substitution of walnuts for pignoli nuts? even some walnut oil with the olive oil? and finally how about mentioning that a film of olive oil keeps the pesto from oxidizing to black? User:Wetman


 * OK, got some of that in the article. Just for refrence, I'm a biochemist, not a cook, so feel free to change what ever needs changing.Gentgeen 12:35, 9 Nov 2003 (UTC)

I flipped quickly through the Project Gutenberg edition of the Bucolics, and found this reference:

''Pounds Thestilis her mess of savoury herbs, Wild thyme and garlic. Ecologue 2: Lines 12-13

The latin version of the same reference:

''Thestylis et rapido fessis messoribus aestu alia serpyllumque herbas contundit olentis Ecologue 2: Lines 10-11

This seems like a fair description of modern pesto, but doesn't seem to match the description of ancient pesto in the article (primarily olive oil and cheese).

Speaking only as someone who likes to cook and not as someone knowledgeable in the history of cooking, it seems to me that the distinguishing characteristic of pesto is the use of the mortar and pestle to crush the herbs. An oil and cheese sauce wouldn't benefit from from being crushed. Perhaps our modern pesto derives from two different sauces - the crushed herbs (my dictionary gives crushes and grinds as other meanings for contundit) mentioned in the Bucolics and the oil and cheese mentioned in the article.

I removed the reference to Virgil, since I do not find the quotation from the Bucolics convincing. It refers to some kind of sauce, but not what we call pesto today. Burschik 15:32, 2 Aug 2004 (UTC)

A quick note from a genoese native: to get a decent pesto, you can use Grana Padano instead of Parmigiano Reggiano without losing too much of the original flavour. However, the Prà basil is very important since, AFAIK, is the only basil that doesn' t even remotely taste like peppermint. If your basil has large leaves, and has even just a hint of peppermint, then your pesto won' t taste like the reasl thing. Oh, and BTW... garlic, salt, pine nuts, olive oil, and Parmigiano Reggiano are all important ingredients of Pesto, but I didn' t see any entry about Pecorine cheese. Some just use a hint of it, some are pretty heavy on it, but it' s (not always, but very often) part of the recipe.

Name
I believe that the word means "ground" in Italian, similar to the English word Pestle (as in mortar and pestle). Should this be added into the article?ABart26 05:55, 25 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Nope, sorry, but it means "to crush". Iola k ana • T  20:36, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

PDO status
I cannot find any indication of PDO status for pesto alla genovese on the EU site: either granted or applied for. (These is, however, protection for Basilico Genovese.)
 * Italian PDO and PGI products are listed here
 * A PDF of current applications can be downloaded here

—Ian Spackman 09:39, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

Pine nuts picture
the picture of the pine nuts is not the correct one, since represents Chinese nuts that are not used (or should not) for pesto making since that have very little taste. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.33.238.6 (talk) 13:22, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

Still about pine nuts
they are never roasted, they are far too delicate for it. --192.33.238.6 13:27, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

What does Pesto go well with?
I am wondering what does pesto go well with, as it seems to be rather picky. I know it goes great with cheese and pasta and meat and whatnot, but I'm having a difficult time mixing it with other sauces. I tried mixing it with Teriyaki sauce, but it obviously failed. It goes well with Tabasco, but what else? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.69.137.108 (talk) 17:13, 28 January 2009 (UTC)

Pesto in the USA
Hi, just wondering what is the relevance of adding minute details about the introduction of Pesto in America. Unless it is an article about Pesto in America of course. If it is not, does it not unnecessarily clogg the page? Aren't people, including Americans, much more interested about the general nature of Pesto, and maybe in its historical roots? Just wondering...--82.245.183.127 (talk) 01:19, 2 March 2009 (UTC)


 * It's appropriate for an article to describe—if it is known—where an idea began and at what time and where it spread. That only the U.S. is mentioned is likely because that's all that has been contributed so far.  If you know when it first spread from Genova to say, Scotland, then please add it.  —EncMstr (talk) 04:33, 2 March 2009 (UTC)

Pesto rosso
What about pesto rosso? This article only seems to cover pesto verde.
 * Throw in some tomatoes and stir. Gwen Gale (talk) 22:01, 13 June 2009 (UTC)

Chopped not ground
Real pesto is chopped with a large mezzaluna, not ground. Young Genovese basil leaves are also much better. There need to better pictures. The more common, modern, and commercialized version is what's shown.Pisharov (talk) 22:13, 6 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Not it isn't, by definition of the word: pesto means "pounded". Viridae Talk 22:19, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

A chinese translation of the term is based on the following...
http://www.suzhou.gov.cn/news/2006/8/16/eng/eng-10-32-17-18.shtml --222.64.24.9 (talk) 14:01, 5 September 2009 (UTC)

opening parsgraph lacking
The opening paragraph is trrrible. I get no clear definition of pesto. Is it the basil, the nuts, the preparation... what makes one sauce a pesto and another sauce not a pesto?.129.21.75.235 (talk) 02:52, 4 December 2009 (UTC)

I do not wish to offend, but I agree. I found the two opening paragraphs quite confusing. Initially the article seemed to be talking about Basil and then meanders through a couple of ancillary issues before getting down to brass tacks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.173.163.77 (talk) 09:25, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

Improving this entry
Hello all, I am from Genoa and I would like to better describe this entry. I already made some modification, but I think I can do lot more. Here is what I'm going to write as soon as I have time: Mad Toad (talk) 02:50, 24 April 2010 (UTC)
 * "Pesto genovese" is covered by Protected Geographical Status. That means that its ingredients and recipe are very precisely codified. I'm going to write this, and better describe which are these ingredients and recipe.
 * Commercial versions, or even homemade versions can be different from the registered PGS pesto. Some of them are already described. Maybe I will add some more version.
 * The history section can be increased with more information and references.
 * The laxative and diuretic properties are absolutely not true. It is said so, in the article and in the reference, only for basil seeds, which are not part of the recipe. I'll delete this section.
 * I am not English mother tongue, so please be patient if I make some mistake and feel free to correct my English.

Originally from Africa, but first domesticated in India?
This sentence doesn't make sense. If it was from Africa, why would an Indian trader or merchant or whatever grab a weed, take it back to India, then domesticate it? Surely basil was first domesticated wherever it grows naturally? Humbabba (talk) 01:32, 6 June 2010 (UTC)
 * No, it makes plenty of sense. You just don't know what "domestication" means. 2607:FEA8:BFA0:BD0:78C7:4CEB:CD62:A22 (talk) 06:39, 11 September 2020 (UTC)

Traditional recipe and its home-made and commercial variations
Traditional pesto is basically made with garlic, basil (Genoese basil, strictly speaking), coarse salt, grated Parmigiano and pecorino sardo, pine nuts and olive oil (Ligurian olive oil, for traditional pesto purists). This recipe, which has developed from the original 19th century recipe and has become a staple of Ligurian cuisine, is often altered both in home-made pesto and in commercial pesto, to the extent that some ingredients are totally replaced by other products (resulting in a pseudo-pesto alla genovese): for example, pine nuts are sometimes replaced by walnuts (also in parts of Liguria), almonds and cashew nuts, while pecorino sardo is often replaced by other pecorino cheeses and Ligurian olive oil by other types of oil (e.g. extra-virgin olive oil, sunflower oil, etc.); some commercial pestos even contain no garlic. These variations occur both in home-made pestos and in commercial pestos, sometimes hinging on the ingredients available at home or in a specific region or country (some ingredients might just be cheaper than the ones contained in a traditional pesto). Nonetheless, this article focuses on the original pesto, namely pesto alla genovese, so it features the ingredients contained in a traditional pesto and not the home-made or commercial variations that can be found all around the world; there is actually a section (Variations) dealing with this topic, if anyone wants to add something encyclopedic on it.--Teno85 (talk) 01:30, 21 January 2016 (UTC)

Lemon juice?
"It has been pointed out that pesto is essentially a combination of flavourful leaves, oily nuts, hard cheese, olive oil, garlic, salt and lemon juice; any ingredients meeting this description can produce a pesto-like condiment.[16]" I'll delete this sentence. The first sentence of the section "as the very noun pesto is a generic term for anything that is made by pounding" already states the same idea. Pesto variants named in the section don't even contain leaves, nuts or cheese. And lemon juice is not even an ingredient for the standard pesto. So pesto is definitely not 'essentially a combination' of these ingredients. So it adds nothing and is not really correct too. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Sawtoothcoriander (talk • contribs) 18:56, 22 April 2020 (UTC)

This is your opinion, not what the sources say. ɱ (talk) 19:27, 22 April 2020 (UTC)

Now that I read my comment back, it looks a bit harsh, that was not my intention. But what exactly of this is my opinion, and what exactly do the sources say? Sawtoothcoriander (talk) 22:34, 24 April 2020 (UTC)

I just looked up what the source says and I think it has been paraphrased incorrectly. It says "with these ingredients you can make something like a pesto" not "these ingredients are essential for pesto". I still don't see how this sentence adds anything to the article. Sawtoothcoriander (talk) 22:51, 24 April 2020 (UTC)
 * That's the definition of VARIATION. Vaselineeeeeeee★★★ 23:00, 24 April 2020 (UTC)
 * Excuse me? What is your point?Sawtoothcoriander (talk) 00:46, 25 April 2020 (UTC)
 * Sawtooth is correct. Lemon juice has no place in actual pesto, so the idea that it would be welcome in a "pesto-like condiment" -- let alone sine non qua -- is bunk. The idea that every citation must be more correct than human editors? More bunk. 2607:FEA8:BFA0:BD0:78C7:4CEB:CD62:A22 (talk) 06:44, 11 September 2020 (UTC)

Lemon Juice is an acidulant and a common substitute for vinegar (or vice versa). The original recipe contained vinegar, so mentioning lemon juice here is appropriate. (Indeed, it is even possible that lemon juice was preferred originally.) I observe that (some) commercial preparations do contain a small amount of lemon juice. Drsruli (talk) 19:53, 18 January 2024 (UTC)

Pesto genovese vs Pesto alla genovese
The first name is only reserved for the original and the second one refers to a naming-law for non original pestos not containing the original ingredients. This has been corrected by me and for no appearent reason reverted by "Vaselineeeeeeee". I would like to know why? Quaderratistteuer (talk) 07:06, 12 September 2020 (UTC)
 * you're wrong, here the page dedicated to this food in the authoritative Il Cucchiaio d'Argento: https://www.cucchiaio.it/ricetta/pesto-alla-genovese/. JacktheBrown (talk) 22:05, 24 March 2024 (UTC)