Tag: Pesto

2020 Pestos #17: Belazu Traditional Genovese Pesto

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This is the last pesto from 2020. Next week I’ll be starting my 2021 food series. Very nearly caught up!

Belazu Traditional Genovese Pesto
Belazu Traditional Genovese Pesto.

(Another ’empty jar’ photo. Clearly I was hungry enough to forget to take a picture before I cracked the jar open!)

This pesto had a good taste but the texture was a little on the wet side for my liking. Still a nice option!

Coincidentally for the day I am ending my pesto series, I have been inspired by a cookery show I was watching earlier today to try making my own pesto soon. I don’t know if I’ll be able to make something I like more than my favourite jarred versions, but I’m going to give it a good go!

2020 Pestos #15: Gomo Pesto Alla Genovese

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I have never met a pesto alla genovese I didn’t love!

Gomo Pesto Alla Genovese
Gomo Pesto Alla Genovese.

Um, until I tried this Gomo version, that is.

Don’t get me wrong – it’s not horrible – but it was just a bit too rich for my palate, and didn’t seem to have that nice sharpness that the best varieties do.

I’ll log another Gomo pesto next week that I enjoyed a bit more!

2020 Pestos #14: Sacla Vegan Tomato Pesto

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Another inclusive option in Sacla’s tomato pesto range!

Sacla Vegan Tomato Pesto
Sacla Vegan Tomato Pesto.

This one is fairly similar in strength to the vegetarian version I logged last week, but has a slightly different taste due to its lack of dairy ingredients. It’s nice but not quite as flavourful as I would like. However I’m not the target audience, and it’s great that vegans have a red pesto option as well!

Back to the basil stuff next week…

2020 Pestos #13: Sacla No. 6 Organic Vegetarian Pesto

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A great alternative to the regular version of this pesto is available for strict vegetarians, and I tried it out when I found it in a supermarket last year…

Sacla No. 6 Tomato Organic Vegetarian Pesto
Sacla No. 6 Tomato Organic Vegetarian Pesto.

I’m not as strict with rennet-derived cheese as I used to be, so I’m happy to eat the regular version. However, for vegetarians who are strict about this issue, this is a great alternative. The flavour isn’t quite as strong and tastes a little washed out, but it’s still very recognisable as red pesto.

There’s also a vegan version, which I’ll log next time!

2020 Pestos #12: Sacla No. 2 Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

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My second favourite pesto, but also the one I’ve loved longest.

Sacla No. 2 Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
Sacla No. 2 Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto.

I’ve fallen in and out of love with the Sacla Classic Basil Pesto over the years, as the recipe has changed so much. The tomato version, on the other hand, never changes, and so it has stayed a strong favourite of mine (I had it again tonight). When I was little and first discovered it, it used to be called ‘red pesto’, which is generally still the term I use.

There are lots of red pestos out there, but supermarket ones tend to taste a bit bland, like generic tomato pasta sauce. The Sacla version is sharp and rich and tastes exactly right, which is why no imitation has ever beaten it for me.

2020 Pestos #11: Sainsbury’s Roasted Red Pepper Pesto

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This is a nice tasty pesto flavour that I’ve always associated with summer. I used to have the Sacla version of this in the ’90s and ’00s, but I’ve not seen it in recent years (though you can still get it according to the website!). However, the Sainsbury’s one tastes very similar.

Sainsbury's Roasted Red Pepper Pesto
Sainsbury’s Roasted Red Pepper Pesto.

In addition to the nice pepper taste there are also a lot of pine nuts in there, which are the perfect texture to go with the taste. The only negative is that it’s *very* slightly too moist – from what I remember, the Sacla version gets this balance better. However, that doesn’t stop it being a favourite!

2020 Pestos #10: Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Pesto Alla Genovese

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This used to be my favourite pesto!

Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Pesto Alla Genovese
Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Pesto Alla Genovese.

It’s not my favourite anymore, for two reasons:

  1. They changed the recipe. It’s still very nice, but it’s a little too rich to be perfect.
  2. Geth and I have stopped going to the big Sainsbury’s in our locality that sells this pesto. We went all the time pre-pandemic, as it was convenient to drop in on the way back from our Slimming World group, but obviously our routine has changed and other supermarkets are more convenient for us now.

Still, I’d like to try this one again sometime, as it would make a nice change to my usual selection!

2020 Pestos #9: Sainsbury’s Green Pesto

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This one is very nice! (And not just ‘nice for a supermarket own brand pesto’.)

Sainsbury's Green Pesto
Sainsbury’s Green Pesto.

The taste is sort of a cross between a rich Sacla-style classic pesto and a pesto alla genovese. It’s got a good sharpness and is not too rich, which makes for a really nice flavour.

We don’t shop at Sainsbury’s as often as we used to, but this is always a nice option to have in.

2020 Pestos #8: Asda Reduced Fat Green Pesto

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While pesto is my favourite food, it’s also fairly calorific, and so I can’t eat it every single day (much as I would like to!). As such, I usually give lower-fat versions a try when I see them. They’re not usually much cop, but I live in hope!

Asda Reduced Fat Green Pesto
Asda Reduced Fat Green Pesto.

This Asda version was… no exception. Tasteless and a bit unpleasantly chewy. My search for a tasty low-calorie option continues! In the meantime, I’ll continue to save pesto for a weekly treat.