Sauces

Easy Homemade Artichoke Pesto

April 20, 2018 by Marisa 24 Comments

A delightfully Easy Homemade Artichoke Pesto sauce made with oil and vinegar preserved artichokes, walnuts and parsley. Bursting with unmistakable fresh flavors, this irresistible pesto sauce comes together in mere minutes.

Nowadays its quite easy to find a variety of pesto sauces in your local grocery stores. But for once, I urge you to skip the store bought variety and try a homemade version from your own kitchen. Once you do…you never go back!

For one the flavors are far more superior but mostly its really just so, so easy to make your own. A food processor speeds up the process but also a hand held emulsion blender would work equally well here.

Also a homemade pesto can be customized to your own personal tastes. The walnuts can be substituted with almonds or other favorite nuts. And if you follow a vegan diet, you can simply omit the Parmesan cheese. This would still give you quite a flavorful and tasty sauce with all the nutritional benefits.

Artichokes are one of the more staple vegetables I grew up with and just adore. But I admit that they’re quite a chore to clean and requires lots of hands on experience to trim.

To simplify this pesto sauce I opted for oil and vinegar packed artichokes with the stems attached that are sold in glass jars. I drained them well and patted them down with paper towels because I really wanted the taste of my extra virgin olive oil to come through.

However, you can use frozen artichokes but just remember to thaw them first!

There are many ways you can enjoy this Easy Homemade Artichoke Pesto. Use as a condiment in your favorite sandwiches or top over crostini as a quick appetizer. Its also equally delicious accompanied alongside poultry or fish and makes an amazing quick sauce to toss with your favorite pasta.

Speaking of pasta, I would definitely say that these Trucchetti noodles with the elongated and twisted shapes make a perfect pairing with the creamy pesto sauce. The twisted form creates little crevices which traps and cradles the artichoke pesto and delivers lots of yummy goodness in every bite.

First off, when tossing the pasta with the pesto use some of the cooked pasta water to thin the sauce. Use only as much as needed because this will ensure even distribution throughout the pasta dish.

As a result you’ll be enjoying a wonderfully delicious pasta meal with a delightful creamy and flavorful sauce!

Buon Appetito!

If you make this recipe remember to tag @marisasitaliankitchen on Instagram so I can see your creation!

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Easy Homemade Artichoke Pesto

A delightfully Easy Homemade Artichoke Pesto sauce made with walnuts and parsley, bursting with fresh flavors and ready in mere minutes.

Course: Condiment, Sauce

Author: Marisa

Ingredients

12 ounce jar of oil packed artichokes
1/2 cup walnuts
2 garlic cloves
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups firmly packed Italian parsley
2 generous pinches of chili pepper
2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to your taste

Instructions

In a food processor add the first 7 ingredients and with the motor running pour in the extra virgin olive oil and pulse just until you get a smooth paste.
Stir in the salt and pepper to your taste.
You can use artichoke pesto as a condiment in sandwiches, tossed with your favorite pasta or simply to enhance the flavors in a particular dish.

Notes

STORE PESTO in the fridge for up to 1 week with a layer of oil over the top to keep the greens from oxidizing or freeze for longer shelf life.

Pesto Alla Genovese

September 13, 2015 by Marisa 31 Comments

Pesto alla Genovese is a simple fragrant sauce and one of Italy’s most popular sauces originating from Liguria in the north-western part of the boot.

The essential ingredients are basil, garlic, pine-nuts, extra-virgin olive oil and aged Italian cheeses such as Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino Romano or Grana Padana.

It is super easy, delicious and can be put together in mere minutes. Pesto is best served fresh while the flavors are bright, bold and strong but also keeps well in the fridge for up to one week, covered, with an extra layer of extra-virgin olive oil in the jar to prevent the basil from oxidizing or turning brown.

There are endless ways to use pesto. Try it as a flavor booster for minestrone soup, pizza topping or as a sandwich spread. Toss it with gnocchi or any pasta of your choice.

My favorite way is to toss it with linguine. So quick and easy and packed with the wonderful flavors of summer!

Ingredients:

4 cups fresh basil
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts
3 garlic cloves
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2/3 cup Parmesan cheese

Step By Step Pesto

Place the basil, extra-virgin olive oil, pine nuts, garlic cloves and salt into a food processor or a blender.

Process on high using the shortest amount of time so the basil does not lose it’s vibrant green color. (When I make large quantities I freeze it at this point before adding the cheese.)

Unplug the machine and stir in the Parmesan cheese.

I used the end of a wooden spoon to reach down and stir. Or simply invert the pesto sauce into a small bowl and then stir in the cheese. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

It should not be overly smooth. A little chunky with some texture and you have the perfect pesto sauce. 🙂

Yields 1 cup

Easy Marinara Sauce

August 9, 2015 by Marisa 14 Comments

A simple and Easy Marinara Sauce made with good quality San Marzano canned tomatoes.

Canned tomatoes make a delicious Easy Marinara Sauce. The key to making this super easy tomato sauce is good quality San Marzano tomatoes as well as the best and freshest onions, celery, carrots and garlic. You will be rewarded with the most sensational aromas and intense flavors of a great simple sauce.

Basil is one of my absolute favorite herb and I love to use both the dry and fresh basil in my tomato sauce. The dried variety is great for a long simmering pasta sauce as it has time to infuse the dish with its sweet scent. When I have an abundance of fresh basil I will add a couple of springs during the simmering time then fish it out and finish the sauce with an additional layer of shredded basil just before serving.

This recipe is so versatile, one I turn to when making my Chicken Parmesan with Kale or serving it alongside my Arancini. It is also my go to recipe for simmering melt in your mouth meatballs.

Taking the time to sauté the onions until they are translucent ensures a sauce full of flavor.

This marinara sauce can be served with any pasta of your choice. After draining the cooked pasta, I prefer to coat it with a ladle or two of tomato sauce, stir well and then plate and add additional sauce with a generous sprinkle of Parmigiano- Reggiano cheese. 🙂

It would also be wonderful over gnocchi or use it in your favorite baked pasta dishes.

Add a pinch or two of hot chili flakes while it is simmering and use it as a spicy dipping sauce.

This recipe makes enough to fill 2 mason jars. It can be refrigerated it for up to 5 days or can be frozen for later use.

Buon Appetito!

Print Recipe

Easy Marinara Sauce

A simple and Easy Marinara Sauce made with good quality San Marzano canned tomatoes, and a medley of chopped onions, carrots and celery.

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Easy Marinara Sauce

Author: Marisa

Ingredients

Let's Get started with Easy Marinara Sauce
Ingredients:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
2 medium onions peeled and diced
4 garlic cloves minced
2 28 ounces canned San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes crushed
1 tablespoon dry basil
2 springs of fresh basil intact on the branch plus an additional
1/2 cup shredded basil
1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Pour the olive oil in a sauce pot and stir in the chopped carrots, celery, onions and minced garlic. Add a pinch or two of salt and pepper.
Cook for about 8 minutes or just until the vegetables soften and the onions are translucent. (Taking the time to sauté the onions until they are translucent ensures a sauce full of flavor.)
Pour in the crushed tomatoes. Fill the tomato cans with 3/4 full of water, give it a good swirl to release any tomato bits resting at the bottom of the can and add this to the pot.
Stir in the dry basil and the 2 basil sprigs, salt and pepper. Turn up the heat, cover and bring your sauce up to a boil, stirring and checking frequently. Once you have an active boil, reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer covered for 1 hour stirring occasionally.
At this point the sauce should have thickened and reduced by a quarter. If not, simply remove the lid, turn up the heat a little and let it cook for a half hour longer. When it becomes concentrated enough, you will know it is ready. Just before serving fish out the two sprigs of basil and add in the additional 1/2 cup shredded basil. Taste the sauce and add more salt if needed.