Three perfect pestos

We love Genovese basil pesto, but these new favorites break from tradition in color and flavor. Try one tonight.

The Recipes

Pesto is one of these "secret" ingredients good to always have on hand. Tossed with pasta, it makes a meal in minutes. A dab on panni, meanwhile, can make a good sandwich great. There is no basil in the three pesto recipes featured here. Instead, these quick to make sauces feature boldly flavored ingredients, such as black olives and lemon (a perfect accompaniment for grilled lamb), roasted red pepper with almonds and pine nuts (reminscent of a romesco sauce, it make an aewsome dip for crudite or grilled shrimp), and a pesto made with sun-dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and capers (a more exciting than usual sauce for pizza or pasta).

All three would be fabulous smeared over grilled or toasted bread and maybe topped with little cheese. They take only minutes to make. Though we recommend a blender for the best texture, you could use a small food processor. They will keep, covered and refrigerated, for about a week.

August 2011