It's a common misconception that pesto is just one thing: the green one from Genoa! While I absolutely love pesto alla Genovese, the world of pesto doesn't stop there. There are all kinds of pesto sauces in Italy, but this particular one is inspired by Sicilian tomato pesto - also known as "Pesto alla Trapanese". What makes it different from Pesto Alla Genovese is that it uses almonds as opposed to pine nuts, and gets finished with fresh tomatoes, which are bountiful in the south. In Sicily, they use the Pachino tomato - which are small, sweet, and similar to cherry tomatoes. The addition of tomatoes gives the entire sauce a much lighter, brighter flavor.
This is such a great condiment to have on hand during summer. I like to keep it in a jar and use it as needed over the course of a few days! It's so good tossed with pasta and a bit of fresh mozzarella, used on crostini, served with grilled proteins or veggies, and even just as a condiment on a cheese board. This Sicilian tomato pesto adds such a refreshing, summery flavor to every dish!
Sicilian Pesto
Category
condiment Side Dish
Prep Time
10 minutes
Calories
197
Author:
Giada De Laurentiis
Ingredients
1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
1 clove garlic (peeled and smashed)
1 cup packed basil leaves
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes (halved)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
In the bowl of a food processor or high speed blender, pulse the almonds and garlic together until finely chopped. Add the basil, tomatoes, salt and pepper flakes and pulse again to combine. With the motor running, add the oil in a thin stream until combined. Remove the sauce to a bowl and stir in the parmesan cheese.
Serve tossed with pasta and fresh mozzarella, as a spread on crostini, on vegetables or protein.
@Eva Yes! Giada prefers to freeze pesto in ice trays for easy portioned-out amounts.
Eva
Can this be frozen?
DC
Can this be stored in the refrigerator, and if so, for how long?
Deanna Jones
★★★★★
★★★★★
I’m not easily impressed, saw this a few days ago and knew that I had to make it asap, well off to the store I went to get ingredients, made it Saturday evening with rigatoni pasta and also made garlic bread to dip it in.. let me just say that it will be on my make list for this summer, it is absolutely delicious. Next time I’ll add salmon or shrimp to this delicious sauce.. bravo Gilda, this one is a win.
Dona Wolf-Caldwell
★★★★★
★★★★★
Since it’s the end of the season I wanted to use my basil up before it was too late and found this recipe. I always make Giana’s classic pesto recipe which is delicious but found this one and it looked interesting so I made it the other day for a party and it is just amazing! I put it in a bowl with crackers and everyone gobbled it up. I will be making this recipe frequently. Thanks Giada for another great recipe!
Marjolein LeBlond
★★★★★
★★★★★
This is a total hit for our family. I have roasted the tomatoes and the garlic but the rest I followed to the dot. Made also fresh spaghetti with it (I have a machine, so all done in about 15 mins) and mini green asparagus with prosciutto
Melissa Nicewander
★★★★★
★★★★★
Best recipe of the summer!! So easy, so fresh, so delicious! Definitely add the fresh mozzarella topping at the end, it really gives it that icing on the cake.
Christine Faithful
★★★★★
★★★★★
Made this tonight, absolutely delicious 😋
Mikelyn Mulvaney
Hi! Do I need to store leftovers in the fridge?
Kathy Urbano
★★★★★
★★★★★
This is the pesto I remember as a child! My grandfather who was born in Fraine, Chieti and he used to make this when he had an abundance of tomatoes from the garden. We had it with Busiate pasta. This recipe is a gem! Thank you for helping me relive so many great childhood memories one recipe at a time!!
Lindsey Johanson
★★★★★
★★★★★
So. dang. good! Who knew there was more than one type of pesto? Made this for my husband and he loved it!
Anna Seiter
★★★★★
★★★★★
This is a delicious tomato pesto for pasta and crostini! Used my garden tomatoes and basil. We all loved it!
Tim O'Brien
★★★★★
★★★★★
Just made it with my bounty of cherry tomatoes ? and fresh ? I love the flavor and cannot wait to use it on everything.
Cara Gatrell
★★★★★
★★★★★
This tasted as good as it looks! Whole family loved it on pasta and I'm using the leftover pesto for crostini's tonight—so easy too. Perfect for entertaining too, I know it will be one of those dishes that people will want the recipe for and ask where I got it :)
Shannon Thomasser
I even had it over eggs this morning and it was fabulous!
Elizabeth Lampman
Perhaps it was the anemic, store bought cherry tomatos, but this was a little dissappointing. Not a lot of flavor, I did add a little more cheese to buzz it up but probably would not make this again.
Shannon Thomasser
★★★★★
★★★★★
Holy cow! This is the most wonderful, different pesto we have ever had! Used our garden veggies to make this. We had it over homemade French bread that we grilled and it was fabulous. Already shared the recipe with a ton of people! Thank you so much!
Erika Hattenhauer
With the amount of homegrown cherry tomatoes coming my way, this recipe lends itself very useful! I tossed generously with freshly made orecchiette and sprinkled on more grated parmesan. I'm hooked. È eccellente!
Elke Tilton
Delicious! Probably too spicy for kids but heavenly ! I didn’t even add the parm yet and still mouth watering.
Tachara Salazar
Loove this!! It’s delicious and everyone in the house dug it too!
25 reviews & comments
@Eva Yes! Giada prefers to freeze pesto in ice trays for easy portioned-out amounts.
Can this be frozen?
Can this be stored in the refrigerator, and if so, for how long?
I’m not easily impressed, saw this a few days ago and knew that I had to make it asap, well off to the store I went to get ingredients, made it Saturday evening with rigatoni pasta and also made garlic bread to dip it in.. let me just say that it will be on my make list for this summer, it is absolutely delicious. Next time I’ll add salmon or shrimp to this delicious sauce.. bravo Gilda, this one is a win.
Since it’s the end of the season I wanted to use my basil up before it was too late and found this recipe. I always make Giana’s classic pesto recipe which is delicious but found this one and it looked interesting so I made it the other day for a party and it is just amazing! I put it in a bowl with crackers and everyone gobbled it up. I will be making this recipe frequently. Thanks Giada for another great recipe!
This is a total hit for our family. I have roasted the tomatoes and the garlic but the rest I followed to the dot. Made also fresh spaghetti with it (I have a machine, so all done in about 15 mins) and mini green asparagus with prosciutto
Best recipe of the summer!! So easy, so fresh, so delicious! Definitely add the fresh mozzarella topping at the end, it really gives it that icing on the cake.
Made this tonight, absolutely delicious 😋
Hi! Do I need to store leftovers in the fridge?
This is the pesto I remember as a child! My grandfather who was born in Fraine, Chieti and he used to make this when he had an abundance of tomatoes from the garden. We had it with Busiate pasta. This recipe is a gem! Thank you for helping me relive so many great childhood memories one recipe at a time!!
So. dang. good! Who knew there was more than one type of pesto? Made this for my husband and he loved it!
This is a delicious tomato pesto for pasta and crostini! Used my garden tomatoes and basil. We all loved it!
Just made it with my bounty of cherry tomatoes ? and fresh ? I love the flavor and cannot wait to use it on everything.
This tasted as good as it looks! Whole family loved it on pasta and I'm using the leftover pesto for crostini's tonight—so easy too. Perfect for entertaining too, I know it will be one of those dishes that people will want the recipe for and ask where I got it :)
I even had it over eggs this morning and it was fabulous!
Perhaps it was the anemic, store bought cherry tomatos, but this was a little dissappointing. Not a lot of flavor, I did add a little more cheese to buzz it up but probably would not make this again.
Holy cow! This is the most wonderful, different pesto we have ever had! Used our garden veggies to make this. We had it over homemade French bread that we grilled and it was fabulous. Already shared the recipe with a ton of people! Thank you so much!
With the amount of homegrown cherry tomatoes coming my way, this recipe lends itself very useful! I tossed generously with freshly made orecchiette and sprinkled on more grated parmesan. I'm hooked. È eccellente!
Delicious! Probably too spicy for kids but heavenly ! I didn’t even add the parm yet and still mouth watering.
Loove this!! It’s delicious and everyone in the house dug it too!