One of my favorite condiments ever, this sun-dried tomato pesto (or paste) is incredibly easy to make, lasts for a week and can be ready in 15 minutes! Get the pasta going and enjoy a great meal in less than thirty minutes.
Images and text in this post were updated to serve you better. The recipe remains the same.
If you like pestos and easy condiments to make at home, get ready for this sun-dried tomato and pine nut pesto.
Oh my, it’s just so good!
Like most people, I love to have easy pasta recipes to make on a weekday or as an easy lunch on weekends. A jar of this sun-dried tomato pesto solves that issue every time. So let me tell you more about it because it is as versatile as it is delicious.
Main ingredients in this pesto recipe.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: they are the star of the recipe, of course (image below). I buy them dried (as opposed to in oil or water) and hydrate them myself in boiling water mostly, and sometimes white wine.
Make sure you chop them to aid in the mixing. If you leave them whole the immersion mixer or blender might not bread them down enough.
You can read more about them and how to make them at home in my Sun-dried Tomato Dip post.
- Pine nuts: also known as pignoli (their Italian name) I love them but they are the sophisticated sister in the nut group (image right).
Though they are easily found in specialty stores and online, they tend to be expensive compared to other nuts, and not commonly used. Or not so much at least.
Tips & tricks for making this recipe:
- Tomatoes: be sure to hydrate them well and chop them before mixing.
- Nuts: use pine nuts or walnuts. Be very careful if you’re toasting them, especially pine nuts, as they can burn in seconds. Always keep them in the fridge or the freezer (my choice). They can turn bitter and give you what is called pine nut mouth, a situation you don’t want to get into. This is avoidable if you buy fresh nuts from reliable sources and keep them frozen. This goes for all nuts, not only pine nuts.
- Keeping: it keeps well for a week at least. A glass jar with a tight lid works best. I use old marmalade or mason jars. And make sure it has a thin layer of olive oil in the top (image above). This will prevent it from oxidizing and darkening. If that happens, simply remove that top layer with a spoon; you will see that beneath the pesto is bright red (similar to what happens with guacamole).
Uses for sun-dried tomato pesto.
- Pasta: the most obvious answer, it really makes dinner easy. Just boil your favorite dry pasta al dente, throw in a couple spoonfuls of this tomato pesto, a few gratings of parmesan cheese and that’s it. Dinner’s ready. Any type of pasta works, though I like short intricate shapes, such as fusilli, that have more surface for the pesto (or any sauce) to adhere to.
- Pizza: the first time I used this pesto was as a base for pizza with goat cheese. Sooo good! It was served as an appetizer. I wouldn’t recommend eating your regular Sunday night pizza with this pesto alone. It would be too heavy. But, a spoonful in your regular pizza sauce will add a kick to it.
- Bruschetta: as an appetizer, nothing beats a good bruschetta, which is basically stuff on toast. The one above is served with a layer of this pesto and crumbled goat cheese on walnut bread (old image, I know).
- Dips: you can make a fast dip by mixing sun-dried tomato pesto with cream cheese. Serve it with breadsticks or as part of a charcuterie board.
- Sauce: use it as a sauce for grilled chicken. Even better in leftover grilled chicken sandwiches.
Other recipes you might like:
Linguini with Cauliflower Pesto
Spinach Lemon Pesto
Royal Pesto Potato Salad
Mozzarella Pesto Naan Bread
Easy Sun-Dried Tomato Dip
Let me know if you make this recipe! I’d love to hear what you think about it.
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PinIngredients
- 1 cup sun dried tomatoes
- ¾ cup packed stemmed fresh parsley
- ½ cup pine nuts
- 2 medium shallots
- 1 medium garlic clove
- 1 Tbs red wine vinegar
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- ½ cup olive oil (or to taste)
Instructions
- Put the sun dried tomatoes in a bowl, cover with boiling water and let soften 15 to 20 minutes. Drain. Chop very coarsely.
- In the bowl of a food processor, or immersion blender, put the chopped tomatoes, parsley, pine nuts, shallots, garlic, some pepper and ¼ teaspoon salt.
- Add ¼ cup olive oil and process until a paste starts to form.
- With a spatula, clear the sides of the bowl, and taste. Add more salt and pepper if necessary and add the vinegar.
- With the machine running, add the rest of the olive oil in a thin stream. Clear the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed.
- The pesto is done when it’s as chunkier or smooth as you want. You might not need the whole amount of oil.
- Check a final time for salt, pepper and vinegar. Adjust if needed.
Notes
Tips & tricks for making this recipe:
- Tomatoes: be sure to hydrate them well and chop them before mixing. Or buy the ready ones that come packed in olive oil and have a jar in the fridge at all times.
- Nuts: use pine nuts or walnuts. Be very careful if you’re toasting them, especially pine nuts, as they can burn in seconds. Always keep them in the fridge or the freezer (my choice). They can turn bitter and give you what is called pine nut mouth, a situation you don’t want to get into. This is avoidable if you buy fresh nuts from reliable sources and keep them frozen. This goes for all nuts, not only pine nuts.
- Keeping: it keeps well for a week at least. A glass jar with a tight lid works best. I use old marmalade or mason jars. And make sure it has a thin layer of olive oil in the top (image above). This will prevent it from oxidizing and darkening. If that happens, simply remove that top layer with a spoon; you will see that beneath the pesto is bright red (similar to what happens with guacamole).
Keywords: tomato pesto, sun dried tomato pesto
Barely adapted from Bon Appetit, August 1994
I think you and I are kindred spirits when it comes to recipes! I have been known to be a little obsessive when it comes to finding recipes that I know I have. This recipe for sun dried tomato and pine nut pesto was definitely worth the search. I will be bookmarking it!
Aw yum! I've never made a sundried tomato pesto but now I seriously want to! I love the fact that you paired it with goats cheese, one of my favourite healthy addictions 🙂 And even though it's a long way, I'm with e – would love you to come and visit us over here! You'd be welcome to dinner at my house any time 🙂 xx
Absolutely Laura!
paula, the more i read your stories, the more i love you. i think we would get along fabulously, so when you are game to make it thru an international airport again and you arrive in hobart, i'm here!
than you for a delicious looking pesto recipe – i would never think to make my own sun-dried tomato pesto. your photos are glorious.
You know Australia is first on my list e!
I love this pesto idea! You can spread it on crostini, sandwiches, pastas –oh yum! And your photos are absolutely gorgeous Paula! Have a great week. 🙂
This is my favorite pesto. Love it. And travel always rings a bell. We've all been there!
Oh, I know EXACTLY how you felt… the missing knife, the missing bag, the missing pine nuts I KNEW were purchased… I am quick to blame anybody but myself for not seeing it where it was all the time… 🙂 This pesto sounds great – and when I commented on your blog the other day about my sun-dried tomato pesto, I realized this morning that it was a sun-dried tomato tapenade. Also good… And now I want both. ~ David
Homemade walnut raisin bread toasted and spread with this deliciousness sounds good to me! Our blender is broken at the moment – counting down the day until I can make gorgeous pestos again!
I have tried a similar pesto with tomatoes and walnuts. Your recipe looks delish too and will try it your way soon.
Sorry to know about your experience at the airport.
This would be a perfect recipe to use the oven dried tomatoes I made last week. Gotta get some more pine nuts..the stuff is so good!
Paula,
I love the story about you at the airport. . We've all been there so don't feel bad. . and I feel the same way about my Food & Wine magazines but Madeline has not rec'd the memo yet. She always seems to find one and rips out a few pages. . so I have since moved all of them up where she cannot reach them. at least for now. 🙂
Dude, this pesto!!!! I love anything I can slather on a piece of bread . . and topped with some goat´s feta cheese?!!! what?!!!! The bomb, indeed! yum.
Love these flavours in here. A great make ahead snack for gatherings or just a wonderful pesto in your pasta. Do you put a little oil on top and store in the refrigerator if you have left overs?
Yep!
Yay! You promised this recipe and I've been looking forward to it… + somehow I'd missed the cauliflower pesto. Oh baby! I may add an anchovy or two – looks spectacular!
What is that that makes us temporarily blind to what we're looking for? It reminds me of cartoons with swirling eyes – sometimes it feels that way. 🙂
Sun dried tomatoes are a star ingredient in any recipe, nest-ce pas?
Your story at the airport made me smile…Travel is fun but does take a bit of energy…And keeping the spirits up certainly can be a challenge.
BTW Not to detour travel to LAX…But my friends from the UK swear they are going to go through customs at SFO next time =)
I´m with them Kim!
Tasty looking pesto!
This pesto looks lovely, who needs green 😉
Great flavour combo!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Your pesto looks lovely. And my sympathies about the missing suitcase. Sometimes when I travel, I get pretty bleary-eyed too!
I have pine nuts in my freezer and a jar of sun dried tomatoes in my pantry. Excuse me while I go whip up a batch…
Oh yeah it looks incredible. I NEED to try this, so I ll save it for a time when I have pine nuts. Smart recipe Paula, glad you shared it with us, I am completely inspired!
I must say this looks absolutely yummy! I agreed they are very versatile and easy to make:D
Oh, I can see so many uses for your magnificent pesto, Paula. But I'd start with this stunning nibble with the goat cheese….swooning.