Homemade Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

Name: Homemade Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 160g of Dried Tomatoes; 2 teaspoons of White Wine Vinegar; 30g of Basil Leaves; 1-2 cloves of Garlic; 100ml of Olive Oil; 50g of Parmesan Cheese; 30g of Pine Nuts, Walnuts, Almonds, etc.; Adequate amount of Salt; Appropriate amount of Pepper

20 min prepApproximately 20 minutes

Updated 27 Feb 2025

Pesto rosso di pomodori secchi is a rich and flavorful Italian sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, nuts, Parmesan, garlic, and olive oil. When I visited Florence, I learned from a local shop how to use sun-dried tomatoes, which inspired me to create this vibrant red pesto. Its deep umami richness makes it perfect for pasta, spreading on bread, or adding a Mediterranean twist to your favorite dishes. Easy to make and bursting with flavor, this sun-dried tomato pesto will become a staple in your kitchen!

Ingredients

160g of Dried Tomatoes
2 teaspoons of White Wine Vinegar
30g of Basil Leaves
1-2 cloves of Garlic
100ml of Olive Oil
50g of Parmesan Cheese
30g of Pine Nuts, Walnuts, Almonds, etc.
Adequate amount of Salt
Appropriate amount of Pepper

How to make it

1/ Prepare the Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Wash the sun-dried tomatoes under running water. 2/ Soften the Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Bring a pot of water to a boil, then add the vinegar and sun-dried tomatoes. Boil for about 5 minutes, then drain using a colander. Once slightly cooled, pat dry with kitchen paper to remove excess moisture.

3/ Prepare the Basil: Wash the basil leaves and gently pat them dry with kitchen paper or a clean dish towel.

4/ Grate the Parmesan Cheese: Grate the Parmesan cheese. (Skip this step if using pre-grated cheese.)

Toast the Nuts: Lightly toast the pine nuts in a dry frying pan until fragrant.

6/ Blend the Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, basil leaves, garlic(adjust the amount to your taste), pine nuts, and olive oil. Blend with a hand blender until smooth.

Basil leaves, sundried tomatoes, pine nuts and olive oil in a bowl

Sun-dried tomato paste in a bowl, hand blender

7/ Adjust the Texture and Seasoning: Add the Parmesan cheese and blend again until even smoother. Taste and adjust with salt and pepper as needed. For a thinner consistency, add more olive oil to achieve your preferred texture.

Sun-dried tomato paste and Parmesan cheese in a bowl

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Sun-dried tomato pestosso in a glass container, knife, wooden board, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts and basil leaves

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Good to know

⭐️Tips for Making the Best Pesto Rosso⭐️

⭐ Yields About 450g – Perfect for multiple meals!

⭐ Storage Tip – If not using immediately, store in a sterilized jar to keep it fresh.

⭐ Adjust the Texture – This pesto is rich and flavorful but can be a bit thick. To make it smoother, add more olive oil, a splash of pasta water when mixing with pasta, or a little warm water when using as a spread.

⭐ How to Use for Pasta – Mix with olive oil, add a bit of pasta cooking water, or customize it to your liking for the perfect consistency.

⭐ Get Inspired! – Check out delicious pasta recipe"Bacon and Pesto Rosso Pasta" using this pesto with bacon and more!

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