12 Herbs That Make Awesome Pestos

When we think of pesto, there is one herb that comes to mind. It is the herb used in traditional pesto sauces, but there is so much more to pesto than basil.

Pesto comes from the Italian ‘pestare‘ which means ‘to crush‘ or ‘to pound‘, so really any herb can be used.

In fact, some vegetables fit the bill too. Sun dried tomatoes or roast peppers make wonderful pestos.

Pestos are a really handy way to preserve herbs as you keep all of the flavour in a bottle, ready to add to anything that you are cooking.

I don’t always add nuts or cheese - sometimes my pestos are really just crushed herbs with garlic and oil.

So what herbs can you use? Softer leaves are better because of the texture, although rosemary is a woody herb and makes an excellent earthy pesto.

In this article are 12 of my favourites with the oil and nuts that I like to pair them with. Feel free to change the ingredients depending on what you have on hand and your taste preferences.

Try your own combinations too. It really is a matter of crushing the herb up with oil, garlic, nuts and cheese. A pestle and mortar is the traditional method, but a food processor is so much quicker.

Basic Recipe

2 cups fresh leaves

2 garlic cloves

1/2 cup nuts

1/4 cup cheese

1/4 cup oil (more or less)

Salt

* Crush the garlic cloves in the pestle and mortar

* Add the nuts and crush until a coarse paste

* Add the herb in batches, pounding until smooth

* Add the cheese and salt to taste

* Slowly pour in the oil until it is the right consistency (for you)

Or put everything into a food processor and hit the button!

1. Basil

The herb that made pesto famous. Basil is combined with olive oil, garlic, Parmesan and pine nuts.

Pine nuts are the in the traditional basil pesto, but they are so expensive. Use cashews, macadamia nuts, or unsalted peanuts as a replacement. If you are adding the pesto to pasta or strong flavoured ingredients you will never tell the difference.

2. Coriander

A strong flavoured herb that will overpower most oils. Use olive oil or flax seed if you want the benefit of the oil taste.

Nuts that compliment coriander are macadamia and peanuts. Ditch the cheese and add lots of garlic and some red chili

3. Rosemary

Another robust herb, but this time a Mediterrean one. Pair it with olive oil, extra garlic, and I like brazil nuts. Parmesan cheese is the only one that really stands up to the flavour.

This is a fairly coarse pesto and you really need to use young leaves for a decent texture.

4. Spekboom

Yes, the plant that fights carbon emissions also makes a fabulous pesto. Pick the leaves in the afternoon when they are sweeter.

Use a sweet oil like avocado or macadamia, cashew nuts, no cheese, and add a squeeze of lemon juice to break the bitterness. As it is a succulent this pesto can be a bit watery and the shelf life is only about a week.

I love it served on bruchetta or a bagel with cream cheese.

5. Summer Savoury

I love this herb, and it is so under-rated and defintely under-used. It is a mildly flavoured herb so use a gentle oil like grape-seed, cut the garlic down to 1 clove and use peanuts. I don't add cheese when I make it, but sometimes add some grated mozerella when I serve it.

Perfect for toasted bruchetta where you can enjoy its full flavour.

6. Parsley

Parsley is wonderful as a pesto. It has a clean, fresh taste and I love it in a pasta dish, in scrambled eggs or on tomato salad.

Avocado oil and macadamia nuts are perfect partners for this humble herb. Parmesan or pecorino are the best cheeses.

7. Dandelion

This slightly bitter weed is so good for you, the leaves will give your kidneys a lot of support, and what better way to take your 'medicine' than in a pesto!

Use the young leaves and combine them with olive oil, almonds and Parmesan.

8.Chickweed

Another vitamin and mineral packed weed. Just use grape seed or avocado oil. Leave out the garlic, cheese and nuts.

Is this a pesto? Who cares? It is delicious and, strangely enough, goes so well with sweet fruit. Pour some onto a baked peach and you will see what I mean.

Another good use for it is in a watermelon, olive and feta salad

9.Sorrel

If you have this lemony flavoured herb in your garden I am sure you are looking for ways to use it. It is stunning in a pesto.

I have made it with hazelnuts and flax seed oil, which was amazing, and also with olive oil and cashews.

Sorrel is very flexible so try any oil and nut combinations. I used garlic, but didn't add cheese. However, it has a strong flavour so would work with Parmesan.

10.Fenugreek

Fenugreek grows so quickly and is just as good when used as a green herb rather than waiting for the seeds.

This pesto is great in a wrap, as a side for a curry or smeared on a baked sweet potato.

No cheese in this one, just a lot of garlic and the best oils are sesame or flax. A little bit of chili is good too. Oh yes, use the roots too.

11. Oregano

This is a very pungent pesto which is fabulous served with pasta, gnocchi or on a baked potato.

Olive oil and almonds work well with this herb, and a few black olives add a little extra ooph.

I don't often add Parmesan because I use this as a flavouring for soups, sauces and stews and the Parmesan flavour would be wasted.

12. Nettle Pesto

If you are sensitive to nettles, wilt the leaves in boiling water first. Just a quick dip, and then dry them thoroughly.

I like this with a smooth flavoured nut like brazils or cashews. Olive or avocado are ideal oils, and a couple of grinds of black pepper will give it another dimesion of flavor.

There you are - ideas for 12 herb pestos. Some other herbs I have tried and enjoyed are purslane, many of the mints, wild garlic flowers, sage, kale, rocket and horseradish leaves (very spicy)

And of course, there are some I don't like -

* Thyme - Too chewy

* Lavender - Too flowery

* Aniseed - Flavour is just wrong

* Fennel - Overpowering when served

* Celery leaves - Better in a salad

* Salad leaves - Nice but goes brown

As you can see, you really can use any herb and combine it with a variety of oils, nuts and cheeses.

Have fun experimenting and let me know if you find an awesome combination.