PESTO – BEST WAYS TO USE SWEET, THAI, OPAL, PERSIAN, MINT AND LEMON LIME

Pesto is one of those magical ingredients — it’s versatile, fresh, and can elevate anything from breakfast to dinner. 

 

Pasta & Noodles

• Toss cooked pasta directly with 2–3 tablespoons of pesto and a splash of pasta water for a creamy coating.

• Use it in cold pasta salads for a fresh, herbaceous flavor.

• Try on rice noodles or soba for a twist on Asian-inspired dishes.

Sandwiches & Wraps

• Spread on bread instead of mayo or butter.

• Add to wraps with roasted vegetables, chicken, or turkey.

• Mix with cream cheese or hummus for a flavorful sandwich spread.

Salads & Dressings

• Thin pesto with olive oil or lemon juice for a quick salad dressing.

• Drizzle over Caprese salads or roasted vegetable bowls.

• Toss with quinoa, couscous, or farro for a hearty grain salad

Protein & Main Dishes

• Brush pesto on chicken, fish, or shrimp before baking or grilling.

• Dollop over roasted pork or steak as a finishing sauce.

• Mix into meatballs, turkey burgers, or veggie patties for extra flavor.

Pizza & Flatbreads

• Swap tomato sauce for pesto on pizza for a bright, herb-forward base.

• Drizzle on flatbreads after baking with veggies or mozzarella.

• Combine with ricotta as a pizza spread.

Appetizers & Snacks

• Mix with cream cheese or Greek yogurt for a dip.

• Spread on crostini or toasted baguette slices.

• Use as a sauce for roasted potatoes or baked fries.

Eggs & Breakfast

• Stir into scrambled eggs or omelets just before finishing.

• Spread on avocado toast.

• Mix with ricotta and stuff into breakfast burritos or frittatas.

Soups & Stews

• Swirl into minestrone, vegetable, or potato soup just before serving.

• Adds depth to bean soups or creamy purees.

Creative Ideas

• Sweet pesto: Drizzle over strawberries, peaches, or figs.

• Smoothies: Add a teaspoon of basil pesto to a savory green smoothie for an herby kick.

• Pesto butter: Mix with butter and brush on corn, bread, or grilled vegetables.

Quick Tip

Finishing, not cooking: Pesto is best added at the end of cooking to preserve its fresh flavor.

 

Thai basil pesto has a slightly spicier, anise/licorice flavor compared to sweet or lemon basil, which makes it amazing in both Asian-inspired dishes and creative fusion recipes. 

 

Noodles & Rice

• Stir-fry: Toss Thai basil pesto with rice noodles or stir-fried vegetables for instant flavor.

• Fried rice: Mix 1–2 tablespoons into fried rice near the end of cooking.

• Rice bowls: Spoon over steamed jasmine rice with roasted veggies or grilled chicken.

Proteins

• Grilled meats: Brush over chicken, shrimp, or pork before grilling.

• Marinade: Combine Thai basil pesto with soy sauce, lime juice, and a little honey for pork or chicken.

• Seafood: Drizzle over grilled or baked fish for an aromatic kick.

Salads & Dressings

• Thin with lime juice or rice vinegar for a zesty dressing.

• Toss with cucumber, tomato, or green papaya salad for Thai-inspired flavors.

• Use as a drizzle on quinoa or noodle salads.

Fusion Pizza & Flatbreads

• Swap tomato sauce for Thai basil pesto on pizza — top with mozzarella, bell peppers, or cooked shrimp.

• Drizzle on flatbreads with caramelized onions, chicken, or mushrooms.

Sandwiches & Wraps

• Spread on bánh mì, wraps, or grilled veggie sandwiches.

• Mix with mayo or yogurt for a creamy, herby spread.

Eggs & Breakfast

• Stir into scrambled eggs or omelets for a Thai flavor twist.

• Use on avocado toast with a fried egg and chili flakes.

Soups & Curries

• Swirl into coconut milk-based soups (like Thai pumpkin or chicken coconut soup) right before serving.

• Add a spoonful to curries or stir-fries for fresh herb depth.

Creative Ideas

• Thai basil pesto tacos: Pair with grilled shrimp or chicken, slaw, and lime.

• Dips: Mix with Greek yogurt for a veggie dip or drizzle over roasted potatoes.

• Pesto butter: Mix with butter for grilled corn or seafood.

Quick Tips

• Add at the end of cooking to preserve the fresh anise flavor.

• Balances heat: Works beautifully with spicy or tangy dishes.

 

Dark Opal Basil Pesto has the classic fresh basil flavor with subtle hints of clove and spice. Its rich purple color creates a unique presentation, though it may darken to a deep greenish-purple over time. It’s delicious anywhere you’d use traditional basil pesto.

Toss with Pasta

• Mix with hot pasta and a splash of reserved pasta water.
• Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or roasted vegetables.
• Finish with grated Parmesan.

Spread on Pizza

• Use instead of tomato sauce.
• Dollop onto finished pizza for a burst of fresh flavor.
• Pair with mozzarella, goat cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, or prosciutto.

Upgrade Sandwiches & Wraps

Spread on:

• Turkey sandwiches
• Grilled chicken wraps
• Veggie sandwiches
• Paninis
• Burgers

Make Bruschetta

Spread on toasted baguette slices and top with:

• Fresh tomatoes
• Mozzarella
• Burrata
• Goat cheese
• Roasted peppers

Dressing & Marinade

Whisk pesto with:

• Olive oil
• Lemon juice
• A splash of vinegar

Use it as:

• Salad dressing
• Marinade for chicken or pork
• Sauce for grilled vegetables

Toss with Vegetables

Mix with:

• Roasted potatoes
• Green beans
• Asparagus
• Zucchini
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower

Eggs

Stir into:

• Scrambled eggs
• Omelets
• Breakfast burritos
• Quiche
• Frittatas

Meat & Seafood

Serve with:

• Grilled salmon
• Chicken breasts
• Pork tenderloin
• Steak
• Shrimp

Stir into Soups

Add a spoonful just before serving to:

• Tomato soup
• Minestrone
• Potato soup
• Vegetable soup

Appetizers

Serve with:

• Crackers
• Fresh mozzarella
• Goat cheese
• Burrata
• Charcuterie boards

 

Lemon lime pesto is bright, citrusy, and herbaceous, making it more versatile than traditional basil pesto. It works especially well with vegetables, seafood, chicken, and grains.

Pasta

• Toss with hot pasta and a splash of pasta water.
• Mix with cheese ravioli or tortellini.
• Stir into cold pasta salad.
• Add to orzo or couscous.

Sandwiches & Wraps

• Spread on turkey or grilled chicken sandwiches.
• Use instead of mayonnaise on wraps.
• Pair with mozzarella, tomato, and spinach.
• Spread on burgers.

Salads

• Thin with olive oil and lemon juice for a vinaigrette.
• Toss with quinoa or farro salads.
• Drizzle over cucumber and tomato salad.
• Mix into potato salad for a fresh twist.

Vegetables

• Toss with roasted asparagus.
• Spoon over grilled zucchini or squash.
• Mix with roasted broccoli or cauliflower.
• Stir into sautéed green beans.
• Drizzle over roasted carrots.

Seafood

• Spread on salmon before baking.
• Spoon over grilled shrimp.
• Serve with seared scallops.
• Mix into crab cakes or salmon cakes.

Chicken & Meat

• Marinate chicken breasts or thighs.
• Brush onto grilled pork chops.
• Top grilled steak after cooking.
• Stir into shredded chicken for sandwiches.

Pizza

• Use instead of tomato sauce.
• Drizzle over finished pizza.
• Great with chicken, spinach, feta, mozzarella, or goat cheese.

Breakfast

• Stir into scrambled eggs.
• Spread on avocado toast.
• Spoon over omelets.
• Add to breakfast burritos.

Soups

• Swirl into vegetable soup.
• Stir into chicken soup.
• Add to tomato soup just before serving.

Rice & Grains

• Mix into steamed rice.
• Stir into risotto.
• Toss with barley, quinoa, or farro.

Appetizers

• Serve with crackers and goat cheese.
• Mix into cream cheese for a spread.
• Use as a dip for fresh vegetables.
• Add to a charcuterie board.

Bread

• Spread on warm sourdough.
• Make garlic bread with pesto and butter.
• Brush on grilled bread for crostini.

Fresh Garden Favorites

• Spoon over sliced tomatoes.
• Toss with fresh cucumbers.
• Mix with fresh mozzarella.
• Add to grilled corn.

 

Persian basil is a fragrant, tender basil variety with a flavor that’s often described as sweeter and milder than Italian sweet basil, with subtle hints of spice and anise. It’s incredibly versatile and can be used fresh or cooked.

Here are some of the best ways to use it:

• Fresh in salads: Tear the leaves into tomato salads, cucumber salads, or green salads.
• Make pesto: Blend with garlic, nuts or sunflower seeds, Parmesan (optional), olive oil, salt, and lemon juice. Since you’ve been making pesto for Bell Garden, Persian basil works beautifully on its own or mixed with other herbs.
• Garnish: Sprinkle over pizza, pasta, soups, roasted vegetables, or grilled meats just before serving.
• Sandwiches and wraps: Add whole leaves to caprese sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, or wraps.
• Herb butter: Finely chop and mix with softened butter for spreading on bread or melting over vegetables.
• Infused vinegar or oil: Steep fresh leaves in vinegar or oil for dressings and marinades.
• Tea or lemonade: Bruise a few leaves and add them to hot tea or fresh lemonade for a refreshing herbal flavor.
• Egg dishes: Fold into scrambled eggs, omelets, or quiche.
• Tomato dishes: It’s especially delicious with fresh tomatoes, tomato sauce, bruschetta, and your tomato soup freezer packs.

Persian Basil Lemonade

Ingredients

• 1 cup basil leaves
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• ¾–1 cup sugar
• 4 cups cold water

Blend the basil with 1 cup of the water, strain, then mix with the remaining ingredients. Serve over ice.

Green Goddess Dressing

Blend:

• 1 cup basil
• ½ cup parsley
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup Greek yogurt
• Lemon juice
• Dijon mustard
• Garlic
• Salt & pepper