If you are making pesto sauce for the first time, you may be wondering how to thick pesto sauce. Pesto sauce is very simple to make, but there are a few things you should keep in mind when making it..
Keep reading to learn how to thicken pesto sauce.
The Basics – What is Pesto?
Pesto sauce is a simple blend of basil, nuts, and olive oil. It’s traditionally made with mortar and pestle.
It’s easy to make, and you can use it in a variety of dishes (and on pasta), adding a delicious, fragrant, and earthy flavor.
There are two basic ways to make pesto:
Traditional:
The traditional method for making pesto is to pound garlic and basil together using a pestle and mortar. The key is to keep the pestle moving to avoid crushing the basil leaves too much; you should aim for a chunky paste.
Blender method:
Blend garlic, basil, pine nuts, and olive oil in a blender, pulsing until the mixture is chunky and uniform.
Other ingredients:
Some people like to add Parmesan or Romano cheese or lemon juice or lemon zest to their pesto sauce.
Storing it:
Pesto sauce should be stored in a glass jar in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to a month. After opening the jar, you should eat it within 7 days as it will start to lose its nutrients and flavor over time.
How to Thicken Pesto Sauce? – Follow these easy steps.
- 1. Start by chopping up your basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, and fresh parmesan cheese in a food processor until everything is well blended.
- 2. Next, add the salt and pepper, nutmeg and olive oil. Blend again.
- 3. Add the entire mixture to a sauce pan and place the pan over low heat. Let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes.
- 4. Stir every now and then until the sauce thickens.
- 5. Finally add in your sour cream, and blend everything together. Your thick pesto sauce is now ready!
Other Ways to Thicken Pesto Sauce – These alternative recipes are delicious!
Pesto is a delicious sauce, but it has a major problem: the sauce is runny and watery, making it extremely difficult to pour into jars for storage.
Luckily, there are a few tricks you can use to ensure that your pesto remains thick and delicious. Here are four methods you can use:
1. Cook the pesto longer:
Simply cook your pesto longer. Usually, you want to cook your sauce until it’s thick. However, if you boil it, the pesto will thicken up quickly.
2. Add more olive oil.
By whisking in more olive oil, you can thicken your pesto. Pouring in a few tablespoons at a time helps the mixture come together and become thicker.
3. Use a roux. Orzo:
If you want to thicken your sauce with a roux, simply whisk in flour and olive oil. Then, cook the mixture until the flour begins to brown.
All these methods are easy and helpful. As long as you cook the pesto long enough, the sauces will remain thick and delicious.
Conclusion
Now that you have learned how to thicken pesto sauce, it’s time to use your newfound knowledge. Once you know how to make pesto sauce, you can experiment with the different types of ingredients. I would love to hear about your experience! Share it in the comments below!
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