Common Ingredients in pesto Recipes

We researched the most common ingredients in over a hundred popular pesto recipes and found the top 15 ingredients.

The most common ingredient in pesto dishes is olive oil.

Garlic, parmesan cheese, lemon and pine nuts are also common ingredients in pesto recipes. For herbs and spices, basil is popular. Variations include:

• pecorino in place of parmesan cheese
• walnuts, pistachios and almonds in place of pine nuts
• mint in place of basil

Salt is in 85% of pesto recipes and pepper, 35%.

The average pesto recipe has about 10.2 ingredients, with a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 32.

In terms of directions, pesto recipes have about 4 steps on average, ranging from 1 to 17 instructions.

An average pesto recipe takes about 52 minutes to prepare, ranging from 3 minutes to 1 day 1 hour 45 minutes.

Pesto Subcategories

"Pesto" is the past participle of the Italian verb pestare, which means "to pound" or "to crush", in reference to the original method of preparation ... that is why the word is used for several pestos in Italy.

Pesto online recipes, in general, has a few variations. When one main ingredient in pesto can be substituted, such as basil for mint, we create a subcategory of pesto.

The popularity of each type of pesto is marked, and each subcategory has at least 8 different recipes to be called out.

Ratios of Common Ingredients in Pesto

For half a cup olive oil (108 g), the median and average amounts of other significant ingredients are below. Some ingredients are potential substitutes for others, meaning they almost never exist together in a single pesto recipe, and are marked below.

Ingredient	Median	Average	% of recipes with olive oil	Potential subsitutions
garlic	2.7 clove (8 g)	12.1 clove (36 g)	80%
parmesan cheese	half a cup (44 g)	0.8 cup (71 g)	56%	pecorino
basil	2 cup (48 g)	3 cup (73 g)	41%	mint
pine nuts	a third of a cup (45 g)	0.58 cup (78 g)	29%	walnuts pistachios almonds
parsley	1 cup (60 g)	2.2 cup (134 g)	24%	spinach arugula carrots
walnuts	0.43 cup (50 g)	0.71 cup (83 g)	18%	pine nuts pistachios almonds
penne pasta	1 pound (454 g)	2.1 pound (943 g)	15%

Ingredients by Average Weight in Pesto

We also found the average content of the significant ingredients by weight in pesto recipes. This would be: 36% olive oil, 12% penne pasta, 10% parmesan cheese, 10% basil, 6% parsley, 6% pesto, 4% pine nuts, 4% walnuts, 4% garlic, 4% juice lemon and 2% onion.

Here are the top ingredients, listed in order of popularity.

salt

Salt is the most popular ingredient in pesto dishes. In fact, over 85% of pesto recipes contain salt.

Salt is often included in pesto dishes in amounts of 1 teaspoon, half a teaspoon or 1.5 teaspoons.

In pesto recipes that contain salt, it is on average, 0.2% by weight.

For pesto recipes, salt is frequently used with olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese, black pepper and basil. However, pine nuts, pesto, penne pasta and zucchini are almost never used together with salt in pesto dishes.

olive oil

Another popular ingredient in pesto is olive oil. From the recipes we've sampled for pesto, over 80% have olive oil.

Olive oil is often included in pesto dishes in amounts of half a cup, 2 tablespoons or a third of a cup.

In pesto recipes that contain olive oil, it is on average, 13% by weight.

In recipes for pesto, olive oil is often used with salt, garlic, parmesan cheese, basil and black pepper. On the other hand, olive oil is almost never used with pesto, onion, tomatoes, zucchini, butter, carrots and thyme.

garlic

Garlic is another common ingredient in pesto dishes. In fact, over 70% of pesto recipes contain garlic.

Chopped, minced, smashed, crushed, grated, peeled, sliced, removed, halved and roasted are frequent preparations for garlic in pesto dishes.

Common quantities for garlic in pesto dishes include 1 clove, 2 cloves or 3 cloves.

In pesto recipes that contain garlic, it is on average, 1.6% by weight.

Olive oil, salt, parmesan cheese, basil and black pepper are commonly used together with garlic in pesto dishes. Conversely, garlic is not often used with pesto, butter, pistachios and almonds.

parmesan cheese

Another popular ingredient in pesto is parmesan cheese. From the recipes we've sampled for pesto, over 50% have parmesan cheese.

Grated and shaved are frequent preparations for parmesan cheese in pesto dishes.

Parmesan cheese is often included in pesto dishes in amounts of a quarter cup, half a cup or 2 tablespoons.

In pesto recipes that contain parmesan cheese, it is on average, 6% by weight.

For pesto recipes, parmesan cheese is frequently used with olive oil, salt, garlic, basil and black pepper.

Potential substitutions for parmesan cheese in pesto:

• pecorino

Also, parmesan cheese is not often used with cayenne pepper, pesto, onion, mint, tomatoes, zucchini, lemon zest, potatoes, spinach, almonds, carrots, arugula, baby kale and thyme.

basil

Basil is another common ingredient in pesto dishes. In fact, over 40% of pesto recipes contain basil.

Pesto dishes often call for basil to be chopped, packed, dried, rinsed, washed and firmly packed.

Basil is often included in pesto dishes in amounts of 2 cups, 1 cup or half a cup.

In pesto recipes that contain basil, it is on average, 7% by weight.

In recipes for pesto, basil is often used with olive oil, salt, garlic, parmesan cheese and pine nuts.

Potential substitutions for basil in pesto:

• mint

Also, basil is not often used with black pepper, pesto, walnuts, lemon zest, pistachios, butter, almonds, spinach, arugula, carrots and baby kale.

black pepper

Another popular ingredient in pesto is black pepper. From the recipes we've sampled for pesto, over 35% have black pepper.

Ground and cracked are frequent preparations for black pepper in pesto dishes.

Common quantities for black pepper in pesto dishes include half a teaspoon, a quarter teaspoon or 1 tablespoon.

In pesto recipes that contain black pepper, it is on average, 0% by weight.

Salt, olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese and basil are commonly used together with black pepper in pesto dishes. Conversely, black pepper is not often used with basil, pine nuts, cayenne pepper, penne pasta, pecorino, eggs, zucchini, spinach and thyme.

lemon

Lemon is another common ingredient in pesto dishes. In fact, over 25% of pesto recipes contain lemon.

Variations of lemon include:

• juice lemon: 18% of recipes
• lemon zest: 8% of recipes

For pesto recipes, lemon is frequently used with salt, olive oil, black pepper, garlic and parmesan cheese.

pine nuts

Another popular ingredient in pesto is pine nuts. From the recipes we've sampled for pesto, over 25% have pine nuts.

Pesto dishes often call for pine nuts to be toasted and chopped.

Pine nuts is often included in pesto dishes in amounts of a quarter cup, 2 tablespoons or half a cup.

In pesto recipes that contain pine nuts, it is on average, 5% by weight.

In recipes for pesto, pine nuts is often used with olive oil, garlic, salt, parmesan cheese and basil.

Potential substitutions for pine nuts in pesto:

• walnuts
• pistachios
• almonds

Also, pine nuts is not often used with salt, black pepper, parsley, pesto, penne pasta, onion, mint, tomatoes, lemon zest, zucchini, butter, arugula, carrots, baby kale and thyme.

parsley

Parsley is another common ingredient in pesto dishes. In fact, over 20% of pesto recipes contain parsley.

Chopped, packed, rinsed, dried and washed are frequent preparations for parsley in pesto dishes.

Common quantities for parsley in pesto dishes include 1 cup, a quarter cup or 2 cups.

In pesto recipes that contain parsley, it is on average, 9% by weight.

Salt, garlic, olive oil, parmesan cheese and black pepper are commonly used together with parsley in pesto dishes.

Potential substitutions for parsley in pesto:

• spinach
• arugula
• carrots

Also, parsley is not often used with pine nuts, pesto, walnuts, penne pasta, potatoes and almonds.

cayenne pepper

Another popular ingredient in pesto is cayenne pepper. From the recipes we've sampled for pesto, over 20% have cayenne pepper.

Crushed and ground are frequent preparations for cayenne pepper in pesto dishes.

Cayenne pepper is often included in pesto dishes in amounts of 0 pinch, a quarter teaspoon or half a teaspoon.

In pesto recipes that contain cayenne pepper, it is on average, 0.3% by weight.

For pesto recipes, cayenne pepper is frequently used with salt, olive oil, garlic, basil and parmesan cheese.

Potential substitutions for cayenne pepper in pesto:

• mint

Also, cayenne pepper is not often used with parmesan cheese, black pepper, juice lemon, pesto, walnuts, potatoes, eggs, butter, pistachios, almonds, arugula and baby kale.

pesto

Another popular ingredient in pesto is pesto. From the recipes we've sampled for pesto, over 15% have pesto.

Common quantities for pesto in pesto dishes include 1 pesto, 4 tablespoons or 1 cup.

In pesto recipes that contain pesto, it is on average, 12% by weight.

Salt, olive oil, black pepper, garlic and basil are commonly used together with pesto in pesto dishes. Conversely, pesto is not often used with salt, olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese, basil, pine nuts, parsley, cayenne pepper, walnuts, penne pasta, mint, pecorino, eggs, pistachios, butter, arugula, baby kale and thyme.

walnuts

Walnuts is another common ingredient in pesto dishes. In fact, over 15% of pesto recipes contain walnuts.

Toasted and chopped are frequent preparations for walnuts in pesto dishes.

Walnuts is often included in pesto dishes in amounts of half a cup, 2 tablespoons or 1 cup.

In pesto recipes that contain walnuts, it is on average, 8% by weight.

For pesto recipes, walnuts is frequently used with olive oil, salt, garlic, parmesan cheese and black pepper.

Potential substitutions for walnuts in pesto:

• pine nuts
• pistachios
• almonds

Also, walnuts is not often used with basil, parsley, cayenne pepper, pesto, onion, tomatoes, eggs, butter, carrots and thyme.

penne pasta

Another popular ingredient in pesto is penne pasta. From the recipes we've sampled for pesto, over 10% have penne pasta.

Pesto dishes often call for penne pasta to be cooked and drained.

Penne pasta is often included in pesto dishes in amounts of 1 pound, 8 ounces or half a pound.

In pesto recipes that contain penne pasta, it is on average, 33% by weight.

In recipes for pesto, penne pasta is often used with olive oil, salt, garlic, parmesan cheese and basil. On the other hand, penne pasta is almost never used with black pepper, pine nuts, parsley, juice lemon, pesto, onion, eggs, pistachios, spinach, baby kale, arugula and thyme.

onion

Onion is another common ingredient in pesto dishes. In fact, over 10% of pesto recipes contain onion.

Quartered, sliced, minced, chopped, diced and peeled are frequent preparations for onion in pesto dishes.

Common quantities for onion in pesto dishes include 1 small, half a small or 1 medium.

In pesto recipes that contain onion, it is on average, 6% by weight.

Salt, olive oil, garlic, black pepper and parmesan cheese are commonly used together with onion in pesto dishes.

Potential substitutions for onion in pesto:

• spinach
• arugula
• baby kale

Also, onion is not often used with olive oil, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, walnuts, penne pasta, pecorino, eggs, lemon zest, pistachios and almonds.

Other pesto Ingredients

Other significant ingredients used in pesto recipes include:

• mint - 10%
• tomatoes - 10%
• pecorino - 5%
• zucchini - 5%
• potatoes - 5%
• eggs - 5%
• pistachios - 5%
• butter - 5%
• spinach - 5%
• almonds - 5%
• arugula - 5%
• carrots - 5%
• baby kale - 5%
• thyme - 5%

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