Sun-dried Tomato Pesto

Pesto is one of the best sauces in the world, and can be prepared from fresh basil, parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, etc. In this story, we will focus on pesto prepared from sun-dried tomatoes. This tomato pesto is great for those who love the flavor of tomatoes.

You can use it to accentuate the flavor of pasta dishes, pizzas, sandwiches, and even certain meat dishes. It can also be used to prepare a lovely salad dressing. Let's take a look at how this pesto is prepared.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces sun-dried tomatoes
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• ⅓ cup crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• ¼ cup chopped pine nuts
• 3 tablespoons chopped onion

• ¼ cup red wine
• ½ cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt to taste

Method of Preparation
Place the sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl and soak them in warm water for 5 minutes, or until they tenderize. Blend these sun-dried tomatoes, basil, parsley, garlic, pine nuts, and onions in the food processor. Continue blending till they form a fine paste.

Add vinegar, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and red wine to this and blend again. Then add the olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Stir well and season with salt for taste. Your pesto is ready to be used.

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 5 sun-dried tomatoes (softened)
• 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Method of Preparation
Dunk the sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl of warm water, and wait till they soften. Then put them in a food processor along with basil, garlic, salt, and nuts. Blend them until they turn into a soft paste. Add olive oil slowly, and blend again till the mixture reaches the desired texture.

Ingredients

• 450 gms chicken, chopped into small pieces
• 5 sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
• 350 gms spiral pasta (fusilli)
• 50 ml dry white wine
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, crushed

• 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomato pesto
• 2 teaspoons seeded mustard
• 180 ml double cream
• 100 ml low-fat cream
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese
• Finely chopped parsley, for garnish

Method of Preparation
Boil the water in a pan. Add half a teaspoon of olive oil and pasta to it. Cook the pasta al dente. Then take a large frying pan and add half a teaspoon of olive oil and cook the chicken until brown. Add onions and garlic to the chicken and continue cooking till the onions are soft.

Add wine, mustard, and pesto to the chicken and mix it thoroughly. After about 5 to 7 min, add the cream and cheese. Bring the gravy to a boil and then turn down the heat. Keep stirring till the cheese melts. Then add the cooked pasta and stir well. Your chicken pasta with pesto is ready to be served!

This was all about making sun-dried tomato pesto. As you can see, it's very easy to prepare. So instead of buying a bottle, you can prepare it yourself. You can store your homemade pesto sauce in an air-tight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator. You can even place it in the freezer and store it for up to 2 months.