Pesto, Pesto, Pesto!
I could go on and on about the power of pesto to ease the burdens of a burnt out cook.
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I only discovered the power of jarred pesto a few years ago. I liked pesto, I just hadn’t really used it in my own cooking. Now, it’s a main ingredient some dish almost every week. There are so many different ways it can be used and it’s as easy as opening the jar and scooping some out! Another bonus – no measuring required since you just customize the amount to your own personal taste!
My Favorite Pesto
Costco’s Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto is BY FAR our favorite brand, and the only one we use. The bright flavor, the texture, and the quality of the ingredients all make this pesto the next best thing to homemade. Don’t be intimidated by the size. A jar of the Costco pesto will last in the refrigerator for a month or more, and you can also freeze any leftovers for use at a later date. I have tips below on how to freeze it for future dishes. You can read my review of the Costco pesto here.
We use pesto in so many different ways. All of the these dishes are now on my regular meal rotation because they are quick, easy, and delicious.
Time Saved
I don’t make my own pesto, so I had to do a bit of research and look at pesto recipes online. The majority of them estimated 15 minutes to make homemade pesto. Add in the time to get out the ingredients and equipment, and clean up, I’d say it’s probably closer to 20-25 minutes total.
A reminder though that using convenience products is also about saving effort, which is not exactly the same as saving time. If it’s all you can do to get a meal on the table, you’re not going to want to put in the effort to get out the food processor, measure out the ingredients, and clean up. That’s the real benefit of using convenience ingredients!
What Can I Make with Pesto?
Here are some of my favorite dishes you can make using Pesto:
What are your favorite ways to use pesto? Let me know in the comments!