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Home » Recipes » Pasta Sauces

Published: Nov 20, 2023 · Modified: Feb 20, 2024 by Jacqui

15 Types of Pesto (Authentic Italian Recipes)


Are you a pesto lover? If so, you're gonna love this collection of 15 types of pesto from Italy. From 18th-century traditional basil pesto (pesto alla Genovese) to innovative creations like matcha pesto and mint pesto, this collection showcases the rich diversity of Italian pesto recipes.

15 Types of Italian Pesto

What is Pesto?

Pesto is a traditional Italian sauce that originally comes from Genoa in the Liguria region of northern Italy. The name 'pesto' is derived from the Italian word 'pestare', meaning to pound or crush. In fact, the original method of preparation involves crushing the ingredients using a mortar and pestle.

Originally invented mostly to serve on pasta. Nowadays, Italians eat different types of pesto in sandwiches, on pizza and as a sauce to accompany meat or fish. I also often serve it as a dip!

15 Authentic Italian Types of Pesto

Click on the recipe name for instructions and more info.

1) Classic Basil Pesto

Basil pesto, also known as pesto alla Genovese, is one of the most popular types of pesto. The traditional recipe includes fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmigiano cheese, Pecorino cheese, salt, and extra virgin olive oil. It was developed in the 1800s in Liguria. It is traditionally made by crushing the ingredients together in a marble pestle and mortar.

A bowl of classic basil pesto.

2) Trapanese Pesto

Trapanese pesto, originating from the Western Sicilian city of Trapani, is a fresh and flavorful sauce known for its delicate and refreshing taste. Sicilians call this centuries-old recipe, ‘agghiata trapanisa,’. It traditionally includes almonds and tomatoes, lending it a more delicate flavor compared to the classic pesto Genovese.

Sicilians often serve this pesto with busiate pasta, a corkscrew-shaped pasta that pairs well with the sauce's texture.

Trapanese pesto in a bowl.

3) Sicilian Pesto

Pesto alla Siciliana is a creamy and light no-cook pesto from Sicily. It uniquely incorporates fresh ricotta, which can be either cow's or sheep's milk ricotta, alongside Parmigiano or grana. It has a really creamy consistency and is very flavorful.

This Sicilian pesto also contains peeled ripe tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, garlic, and a smaller amount of extra virgin olive oil compared to traditional basil pesto.

Sicilian pesto in a bowl next to ricotta.

4) Pesto Calabrese

Pesto Calabrese is a distinctive and flavorful pesto from Calabria. It is known for its creamy and slightly spicy profile. Diverging from other types of pesto, Pesto Calabrese incorporates cooked ingredients like onion, red bell peppers, and tomatoes. These ingredients are then blended together to make the sauce.

Pesto Calabrese being mixed in a bowl.

5) Mint Pesto

This mint pesto recipe is ideal for summer days, offering a very fresh alternative to traditional types of pesto. It combines fresh mint with basil, pine nuts, grated Parmigiano, and extra virgin olive oil.

The choice of mint used in the pesto will change the flavor of the pesto. Use 'nepitella' or lesser calamint for a milder taste. Alternatively, 'menta Romana', similar to spearmint will provide a more pronounced minty flavor.

Mint pesto garnished with mint leaves.

6) Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

This recipe showcases Sicilian sun-dried tomato pesto, a typical recipe in Sicily. The pesto features sun-dried tomatoes. These provide an intense flavor, enhanced by the addition of garlic, Pecorino cheese, olive oil, pine nuts, and almonds.

This is a very popular and versatile recipe, often paired with foods such as pizza, bread and pasta. However, if you want it served how it is traditionally done in Sicily, pair it with spaccatelle pasta.

A mason jar of sun-dried tomato pesto.

7) Pistachio Pesto

Pistachio pesto is a traditional recipe from Sicily, particularly in the town of Bronte renowned for producing some of the best pistachios in Italy. These pistachios are cultivated in volcanic soil, giving them a richer flavor.

The simplest version of pistachio pesto includes only pistachios, olive oil, salt, and Parmesan cheese. However, variations may include additional ingredients like basil, mint, lemon zest, and garlic.

Pistachio pesto garnished with addition pistachios.

8) Arugula Pesto

Arugula (rocket) pesto, a delightful alternative to traditional basil pesto, stands out for its slightly peppery and stronger flavor. While wild arugula is more aromatic and pungent, cultivated rocket is preferred in this recipe due to its milder taste.

Arugula pesto on a kitchen counter.

9) Roasted Red Pepper Pesto

Roasted red pepper pesto is a contemporary Italian type of pesto, loved for its fabulous flavor. It's perfect with pasta, bruschetta, white meat, fish, and also as a dip.

This version combines roasted peppers with basil leaves, grated Parmigiano cheese, extra virgin olive oil, and walnuts, resulting in a delicious pesto.

Roasted red pepper pesto mixed with pasta.

10) Black Olive Pesto

This black olive pesto pasta recipe reflects the culinary heritage of Southern Italy, a region known for its abundant olive production, particularly in Calabria, where 30% of Italy's olives are produced.

The pesto is similar to a rustic olive tapenade and includes olives, basil leaves, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, and olive oil blended to a thick consistency.

Black olive pesto pasta in a bowl

11) Walnut Pesto

This walnut pesto is a unique recipe from the Italian Riviera in Liguria, Northwest Italy. It is one of the few pesto recipes made with milk, which gives it a creamy texture.

You tend to find this walnut sauce served with homemade pansotti pasta on Sundays and religious days of abstinence from meat such as Christmas Eve and particularly during Lent.

Walnut pesto sauce in a bowl.

12) Beetroot and Radicchio Pesto

Beetroot and radicchio pesto is a unique and flavorful recipe combining the sweetness of beetroot with the sharp taste of radicchio, an Italian chicory.

This pesto offers a delightful balance of flavors, with the beetroot's sweetness offsetting the radicchio's sourness while contributing a vibrant color.

Beetroot and radicchio pesto in a jar.

 13) Casarecce with pumpkin and orange pesto

The pumpkin and orange pesto is inspired by one of my favorite special occasion dishes, Osso Buco with pumpkins and oranges. It's a unique pesto that is slightly sweet and pairs well with the addition of olives.

Pumpkin and orange pesto in a mason jar.

14) Matcha Pesto sauce

If you're a fan of matcha, this pesto recipe is a must-try for its unique flavor. It blends matcha with mint, basil, parsley, garlic, toasted pine nuts, spring onions, extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and Parmigiano Reggiano. The result is a pesto that marries matcha's distinctive earthiness with the aromatic herbs of traditional Italian pesto.

Matcha pesto next to match powder.

15) Busiate with radicchio pesto

The strong and slightly sour flavor of radicchio pesto pairs excellently with Busiate pasta made from tumminia, an ancient Sicilian grain. The natural sweetness of this pasta balances the pesto's slight sourness, creating a harmonious blend of flavors in the dish.

Busiate with radicchio pesto in a mason jar.

Let me know what you think.

If you make any of these pesto recipes, I’d love to hear how they turn out and if you liked them. Please leave a comment here on the blog or on The Pasta Project Facebook page.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Buon appetito!

If you are interested in learning how to make homemade pasta and different types of gnocchi, check out my shop page for some great video online courses from my friends in Rome! Nothing beats learning to make pasta from Italians! Plus while you’re there why not order a copy of my autumn/winter pasta recipes cookbook!?

Pin for Later:

Types of Italian Pesto

More Pasta Sauces

  • Penne Pomodoro easy tomato basil pasta.
    Penne Pomodoro Recipe (easy tomato basil pasta).
  • Pasta all’Amatriciana in a bowl.
    Pasta all’Amatriciana
  • Roasted red pepper pesto mixed with pasta.
    Roasted Red Pepper Pesto with Pasta
  • Mint pesto pasta in a bowl with mint leaves.
    Mint Pesto with Pasta and Ricotta Cream

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Linda says

    July 22, 2022 at 7:02 pm

    All I want is a simple, authentic recipe for basil pesto but I can'r find one - only recipes that call for pesto or variants of the traditional pesto. PLEASE, where's the basic recipe?

    Reply
    • Jacqui says

      July 22, 2022 at 7:51 pm

      Hi Linda, thanks for your comment. You are right that that collection is for different kinds of pesto. For basil pesto you can take a look at this recipe for rocket or basil pesto https://www.the-pasta-project.com/trofie-rocket-pesto/ or this antique recipe for fresh pasta with basil pesto which includes the authentic basil pesto recipe from Liguria. https://www.the-pasta-project.com/silk-handkerchief-pasta-with-pesto/ I am actually working on a collection of basil pesto pasta recipes with a basil pesto recipe at the moment which I hope to publish in the next days. Hope this helps.

      Reply

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