The Pesto Cookbook: 116 Recipes for Creative Herb Combinations and Dishes Bursting with Flavor

by Olwen Woodier

The classic pesto mixture of basil, garlic, olive oil, nuts, and Parmesan cheese is a popular favorite, but why stop at basil? Unlock the full potential of pesto by introducing into the mix other delicious herbs, including rosemary, mint, parsley, thyme, tarragon, and cilantro. This diverse collection of recipes for fresh pestos, pastes, and purées takes inspiration from cultures beyond Italy, with international delights such as Moroccan Chermoula, Brazilian Tempero Purée, and Peanut-Cilantro Pesto. In addition to 49 pesto recipes, 67 creative recipes for cooking with pesto show off how versatile these simple sauces can be.

• ISBN10: 1612127657
• ISBN13: 9781612127651
• Publish Date: 17 April 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Storey Publishing LLC
• Format: Paperback (UK Trade)
• Pages: 224
• Language: English

Reviews

[Eve1972]

So...little known factoid about me...I LOVE all things PESTO. I know, weird, right? I would throw pesto into everything I cook if I thought my family wouldn't mutiny (lol). So when I saw this cookbook up for review on NetGalley, I just had to request it.

This turned out to be a really great little cookbook. It is separated into twelve different chapters (including an introduction)...


~MAKING PESTOS, TRADITIONAL AND BEYOND~
-- A UNIVERSAL TRADITION
-- THE BASIL BASICS
-- EXPANDING THE HERBAL PALATE
-- PUSHING THE PESTO ENVELOPE
-- HERBED OIL PURÉES, MAYONNAISES & VINAIGRETTES

~COOKING WITH PESTOS~
-- SALADS AND SOUPS
-- SIDES AND SNACKS
-- PASTAS AND GRAINS
-- MEAT AND POULTRY
-- SEAFOOD DISHES
-- VEGETARIAN ENTREES
-- SWEET SURPRISES





Each chapter includes little bits of information and history. The recipes are well laid out and easy to follow. The graphics and photos make it a visual pleasure to browse through as well.


~HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE RECIPES YOU WILL FIND WITHIN~
-- CLASSIC GENOVESE PESTO
-- SPICY TOMATO SUMMER PESTO
-- BRAZILIAN TEMPERO PURÉE
-- GINGER-PEANUT PESTO
-- GOAT CHEESE, YOGURT, AND LEMON PESTO
-- FRESH GREEN HARISSA
-- GREEN MAYONNAISE
-- SPRING GREENS WITH SNAP PEAS, ASPARAGUS, AND MANGOS
-- ZUCCHINI FRITTERS
-- SPAETZLE
-- SPICY BEEF BURGERS
-- GROUND LAMB KABOBS
-- TUNA BURGERS WITH AIOLI
-- SAVORY SUPPER WAFFLES
-- COCONUT CITRUS COOKIES


So as you can see this one is jammed packed with good recipes. Not only for pestos, but mains, sides, and even desserts! This one definitely gets two thumbs up from yours truly.

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Pesto Cookbook from Olwen Woodier and Storey Publishing due out 17 April, 2018 is a modern look at an ancient and traditional ingredient.

Pesto (or paste, or pureé) is a traditional method of preserving summer's bounty of herbs with oil, cheese, nuts and other traditional ingredients. It's super versatile in cooking and can function as a flavor enhancer, meat rub, side dish, topping and so much more.

The book begins with an introduction covering the history and traditional uses for pesto along with ingredients to mix and match. It's worth noting that along with the introductory chapters (about 10% of the content) the author includes a lot of useful tips about growing and harvesting the herbs and greens to be used. The rest of the introductory chapters (about 30% of the total content) expand the definition of pesto and introduce an international flair with pastes from Morocco, Asia, France, Argentina and other world cuisines.

Each of the chapters include recipes along with alternative versions and suggestions for experimentation.

The largest portion of the book (about 70%) is given over to specific recipes for main dishes and appetizers including a large and varied selection of vegetarian dishes.

I'm emphatically NOT a talented cook (more of a keen amateur). I can and did follow the recipes in this book and the results were oh, so tasty and impressive. A very enjoyable well made culinary book that is more than 'just' a cookbook. I tested several of the recipes: Focaccia With Spicy Summer Tomato Pesto, Gnocchi, Spaetzle, and Red Pepper and Spinach Risotto With Genovese Pesto. All were well written with no discernible mistakes.

The Pesto Cookbook is gorgeously colorful and well photographed.

Four stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.