pesto

[ pes-toh ]

noun

, Italian Cooking.

1. a sauce typically made with basil, pine nuts, olive oil, and grated Parmesan blended together and served hot or cold over pasta, fish, or meat.

pesto

/ ˈpɛstəʊ /

noun

1. a sauce for pasta, consisting of basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, oil, and Parmesan cheese, all crushed together

Word History and Origins

Origin of pesto¹

First recorded in 1935–40; from Upper Italian (compare Genoese dialect pésto “pesto”), Italian; noun derivative of pestare “to pound, crush”; piste

Word History and Origins

Origin of pesto¹

Italian, shortened form of pestato, past participle of pestare to pound, crush

Example Sentences

After all, many people have probably thought of combining eggs and pesto.

From Eater

In Vermont, they’ve distributed invasivespecies recipes and encouraged elementary school students to turn garlic mustard into pesto.

From Popular-Science

But even the most adventuresome eaters have probably never eaten Maori pikopiko pesto.

From The Daily Beast

Then move on to the Mandilli di seta al pesto, handmade handkerchief pasta with Genovese basil pesto.

From The Daily Beast

I enjoyed a spectacular braised shin of beef with a parsley pesto and fried parsley.

From The Daily Beast

Marya Dmitrievna Pesto—that was her maiden name—had lost her parents in childhood.

From Project Gutenberg