Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Pesto
Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Pesto is a wonderfully diverse recipe component that is vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free. A delicious and easy sauce that you can add to hot pasta, use as a dip or spread on sandwiches.
Have you ever looked at sun-dried tomatoes in the store and wondered what you could use them for? They’re delicious in salads, but I going to show you how to turn them into an EASY (yes, that easy) sauce that is perfect for many different diet requirements. This is an old recipe (from 2015) with updated pictures and video.
All you need is a jar of sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil with herbs, fresh basil and garlic. One of my favorite uses of this fresh and hearty pesto is in Grilled Vegetable Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta. See below for more uses.
Toasted garlic
I like to ‘toast’ the garlic because raw garlic in pesto is too intense for me. This involves frying the cloves in a little oil which makes the garlic slightly browned, milder and sweeter. If you want to add the raw garlic cloves, just skip this step.
Sun-Dried Tomato Options
Buy the sun-dried tomatoes in oil because the oil has taken on the flavor of the sun-dried tomatoes. I also sometimes use the sun-dried tomatoes in oil with herbs for extra flavor.
Serving suggestion
Delicious served with Grilled Vegetables (picture below).
If you’ve tried this Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I love to hear from my readers!
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Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Pesto
Video
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled
- 2 ¼ cups (512 grams) sun-dried tomatoes in oil
- 1 ½ cups a large handful fresh basil leaves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- To a small saucepan, add the oil over medium-low heat. When the oil starts to ripple, add the garlic cloves and gently fry, turning often until they start to brown. Remove and keep the oil.
- Add all ingredients to a food processor, including the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes. Pulse until well mixed, but still fairly chunky. If you want it more saucy add more olive oil from frying the garlic.
How long does this last in the refrigerator?
The pesto will keep for up to a week in a sealed container refrigerated. Let me know if you have any more questions and enjoy 🙂
Fantastic recipe and so much flavor for such an easy recipe. I used some of (and there is a lot) my homemade basil. Perfect mixed with pasta.
I do love homegrown basil, thank you for the feedback.
Made this tonight in preparation for Thanksgiving! While I love the simplicity of your recipie, I decided to add capers, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, a pinch of salt and a bit of almond meal and wow, it’s fabulous and beautiful as well! Thanks for the inspiration!
I am loving all the additions and can’t wait to try this for myself.
I love sundried tomato pesto but I LOVE how easy your version is! I would be adding this to everything! Looks divine!
Once again you’ve managed to create something so beautiful and tantalizing that I can only imagine just how wonderful this must taste; great job!!
I love pesto and yours looks delicious! Love your photo! Pinned and shared!
Love how simple this recipe is, Janette – and it looks so much fresher and more delicious than store bought sun dried tomato pesto!
Dear Janette, this pesto sounds wonderful. I love how easy it is to make. The flavor of the sun dried tomatoes must be wonderful with the basil. I have lots of fresh basil coming up in the garden this year. Can’t wait to try this. xo, Catherine
Wow!! This pesto looks absolutely delicious, and with just two ingredients I have no excuse not to try it! What a great idea 🙂
You have me slobbering all over my keyboard. I love anything that has sun-dried tomatoes in it. I can’t wait to try this recipe.
Ooo! This sounds really rich and flavorful – what a great idea!
This looks fantastic!
This is a great idea Janette! I was planning to make some pesto today, might add some sun dried tomatoes to it 🙂
Beautiful! I always have a jar of purchased sun dried tomato pesto in the fridge for pizza or smudging on bread. I’m sure hour homemade verion is much better! Will have to add it to my list…
Doesn’t get much easier then this! Great versatile pesto!
Gosh how simple and it makes for a great “dip” for a snack table.
Beautiful…this pesto would taste great on anything!
What a creative twist on the traditional pesto…so versatile and healthy too!
So simple, yet kind of brilliant!
I know, right 🙂
I love pestos of all kinds, but sun dried tomato is by far my favorite! Love that there are only two ingredients; it doesn’t get much simpler than that!
Thank you so much Allie
This looks so good! I’d love to try it as a sandwich spread too! I bet it would be great and add on a big slice of fresh mozzarella! Yum!
That sounds so delicious Debi
I’ve never had sun-dried tomato pesto – this sounds wonderful, and so easy to make! Love it! It sounds great on some toasted baguette.
Thank you Kathleen, it’s very tasty