Ricette di Sicilia
Cibo, cultura e tradizioni siciliane
Sicilian Pesto: A Creamy, Fresh Sauce with the Island’s Heart
Dive into the vibrant flavours of Sicilian pesto — a creamy, fragrant blend of tomatoes, ricotta, and fresh basil. Brilliant tossed through pasta or served as a luscious spread on crusty bread!
🛒 Ingredients
- ✓ 500g ripe tomatoes
- ✓ 50g pine nuts
- ✓ 1 garlic clove
- ✓ 150g sheep’s ricotta
- ✓ 100g grated Sicilian pecorino
- ✓ a handful of fresh basil leaves
- ✓ extra virgin olive oil, to taste
- ✓ salt, to taste
- ✓ freshly ground black pepper, to taste
📊 Nutritional Information
Sicilian pesto is a beloved island classic: a Mediterranean twist on the famed Genoese pesto, distinguished by the addition of ripe tomatoes, creamy ricotta, and sharp pecorino cheese. Silky, fresh, and bursting with aroma, it’s perfect for stirring through pasta or spreading on toasted bread. Discover how to whip it up in no time using simple, wholesome ingredients.
👨🍳 Preparation
- 1
Wash the tomatoes, halve them and remove the seeds along with any excess juice.
- 2
Gently rinse the basil leaves and pat them dry carefully.
- 3
Using a mortar and pestle or a food processor, crush the basil, garlic and pine nuts together to form a smooth paste.
- 4
Add the finely chopped tomatoes and mix well.
- 5
Stir through the ricotta and pecorino, then gradually drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil until you reach your desired creamy texture.
- 6
Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, give it a final stir, and use straight away to dress pasta or spread on crunchy crostini.
💡 Tips and Variations
For a lighter touch, swap the sheep’s ricotta for cow’s ricotta, or add a few almonds instead of pine nuts. If you prefer a bolder flavour, try blending aged pecorino with caciocavallo cheese.
📦 Storage
- • Store your Sicilian pesto in a glass jar with a thin layer of olive oil on top in the fridge; it will keep well for 2-3 days.
- • You can also freeze it in small containers or ice cube trays to have some delicious pesto on hand whenever you fancy.
🍷 Pairing
Sicilian pesto sings with long pasta shapes like spaghetti or linguine, but it’s equally delicious spread on bruschetta or enjoyed alongside a chilled glass of fresh Sicilian white wine, such as Grillo or Inzolia.
Why not bring a touch of Sicily to your kitchen? This vibrant pesto is wonderfully easy to prepare and will brighten up any meal — whether twirled through pasta or dolloped on fresh bread. I’d love for you to try making it at home and share the joy with your family and friends; there’s something truly special about gathering around the table over simple, soulful food, isn't there?
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