Description
Sicilian Tomato Pesto is a fresh, vibrant Italian sauce that combines sun-dried and cherry tomatoes with pine nuts, basil, garlic, and Pecorino cheese, all blended with extra virgin olive oil. This versatile, flavorful pesto is perfect for pasta, sandwiches, grilled meats, or roasted vegetables, delivering an authentic taste of Sicily in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Tomatoes
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (chopped if large)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved or quartered)
Nuts and Herbs
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
Other Ingredients
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup grated Pecorino cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Tomatoes: Finely chop the sun-dried tomatoes if they are in large pieces. Wash the cherry tomatoes and cut them into halves or quarters depending on their size to ensure they blend smoothly.
- Toast the Pine Nuts: In a dry skillet over medium heat, gently toast the pine nuts for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant. Stir frequently to avoid burning and to release their nutty richness.
- Blend the Ingredients: Place the sun-dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, fresh basil leaves, and garlic cloves into a food processor. Pulse a few times to start breaking down the ingredients.
- Add Olive Oil and Cheese: While the food processor is running, slowly stream in the extra virgin olive oil to create a smooth emulsion. Add the grated Pecorino cheese, salt, and pepper to taste. Blend just until combined, keeping the texture slightly chunky for authentic pesto consistency.
- Adjust and Serve: Taste your pesto and adjust seasoning if needed. Add more olive oil for a thinner sauce or more cheese for extra savoriness. Your Sicilian Tomato Pesto is now ready to enjoy!
Notes
- Use high-quality fresh tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
- Do not overblend; keep the pesto slightly chunky for authentic texture.
- Toast pine nuts gently to prevent bitterness.
- Pesto can be made a day ahead to let flavors meld beautifully.
- Adding fresh basil leaves at the end enhances the herbal aroma.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 5mg