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.

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? ›

Ingredients. 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.

How long does sun dried tomato pesto last after opening? ›

Made according to an authentic Italian recipe, this wonderfully intense pesto captures the flavor of sun-dried tomatoes perfectly. Shake well before use. Once opened keep refrigerated and use within two weeks.

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.

What happened to Aldi pesto? ›

Problem: The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (peanut). The recall only affects jars of these products which do not state 'may contain peanuts' on either the lid or in the product label allergen listing.

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.

How is pesto so cheap? ›

Some producers cut corners further by simply using a generic "hard cheese." Oil is another ingredient where huge cost savings can be made. While small producers use the highest-quality extra-virgin olive oil, big producers replace some or all of it with much cheaper sunflower oil.

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 do sun-dried tomatoes contain? ›

Vitamins: Sun-dried tomatoes are rich in essential vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin K, and various B vitamins. Minerals: Sun-dried tomatoes contain an array of essential minerals, including potassium, magnesium, and iron.

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.

Why are sun-dried tomatoes so expensive? ›

Because of the labor required to prepare them and the cost of the oil they are packed in, sun-dried tomatoes are expensive, especially if packed in extra virgin olive oil or in fancy jars. They cost about $13 a pound in bulk and $10 for a 7-ounce jar. Wash tomatoes.

Can you use canned tomatoes instead of sun-dried tomatoes? ›

Canned tomatoes would make for a particularly good substitute in pizza sauce, pasta sauce, or tomato soup recipes that call for sun-dried tomatoes. Like bell peppers, canned tomatoes also tend to be cheaper than sun-dried tomatoes, so you shouldn't hesitate to grab a can or two the next time you go grocery shopping.

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 is the difference between green pesto and tomato pesto? ›

Traditional green pesto includes lots of fresh basil, along with Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic and olive oil. Red pesto, on the other hand, is flavored with sun-dried tomatoes and roasted red peppers.

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