What is Pesto Sauce? Nutritional Facts, Calories & Taste

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Pesto Sauce

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What is Pesto Sauce?

Pesto is a basil sauce made with the fresh leaves of the basil plant and blended into a puree with garlic, parmesan and olive oil. It has a dark or bright green color and varies from a thick pasty texture, to a semi-thin and olive oil rich sauce. Some pestos are smoother, while others may be chunky. The flavor is both light and rich, with the herbal and vegetal taste of basil and an umami depth. Pesto is best served uncooked, to preserve the aromatic quality of the basil.

What does Pesto Sauce Taste Like?

Salty

Salty is one of the five main tastes. It has a satisfying and addictive quality with hints of sourness. Salty foods include cheeses, cured meats, chips, and olives. It is used in almost every dish and prepared food. Salt is added to enhance flavor and offer a distinctly salty taste.

Umami

Umami is one of five main tastes. It is savory with a depth of flavor. Umami is a taste in many foods, including meat, seafood, beans, and nuts. It is both naturally occurring and created through the specific use of ingredients to create a satisfying taste. Umami is characteristic of proteins and savory dishes.

Ingredients

basil fresh

Basil is a leafy and aromatic herb that grows in warm climates. There are over one hundred varieties, though the most common Genovese variety of basil produces thin green leaves, in a tapered oval shape. The leaves taste bright, peppery and almost minty; the smell is the same. Basil lends a spicy sweet and herbal flavor to any dish.

soybean oil

Soybean oil is used in many countries around the world and has become extremely popular in the US for its inexpensive price and neutral flavor. Soy oil is considered a vegetable oil and is extracted from soybeans. The color of this thin oil is a translucent golden yellow. Soy oil is used frequently in restaurants for sauteing, grilling and deep frying. It is also used in salad dressings and baked goods.

garlic

Garlic is used in cuisines around the world and is extremely popular for its depth of flavor. The garlic bulb forms underneath the soil and is harvested once it reaches maturity. The bulb typically has thin, dry, white and flaky skin, surrounding the individual cloves. Often there are 10-12 cloves to a bulb/head of garlic. The cloves are cream colored with a strong smell and flavor that is spicy and sharp. Garlic takes on a nutty flavor in addition, when cooked. It is used in countless dishes, sauces, breads and more.

pecorino romano cheese

Pecorino Romano is made from sheep's milk and is one of Italy's oldest cheeses. It is a hard cheese that is aged for five or more months, with a flavor that is very similar to Parmigiano Reggiano. Pecorino has a warm white color and a bit of a gritty and dry texture and is covered in a black rind. Pecorino is more tangy and saltier than Parmigiano Reggiano, with nutty and highly umami taste. It is easy to grate and a small amount goes a long way.

extra-virgin olive oil

Extra virgin olive oil is an extremely popular cooking oil and used raw to drizzle onto a multitude of dishes or mixed into salad dressings. Olives are crushed in a mill and pressed to extract the oil. The color of extra-virgin olive oil is usually a golden-green. The flavor can be mild or sharp, though the sign of a good oil means a bite to the flavor and a spiciness.

salt

Salt is a mineral composed mostly of sodium chloride. It is the main flavoring used in food and is naturally occurring in certain foods, such as cheese, beets, meat and celery, plus many others. Salt is white and has finer granules than sugar. Many commercial salts include iodide, while others exclude it. Most salts are white, while some are naturally pale pink with minerals. Salt brings out the flavor of something and can create a tangy mouthfeel, if used in excess.

additives

Additives are added to food items in small quantities to improve the flavor, change the texture, enhance appearance, or preserve the item. Additives are both natural and artificial. Natural additives have been used for a long time, while many artificial ones were discovered in the 19th century. There are numerous artificial additives including soy lecithin, guar gum, ascorbic acid and sodium nitrite.

Pesto Sauce Nutritional Facts and Calories

Serving Size: 3 Tablespoon52g

3 Tablespoon Pesto Sauce

	Amount Per Serving	% Daily Value
Calories	193kcal	10%
Fats	19g	24%
Sat. fats	4g	18%
Mono. Fats	5g	11%
Trans fats	N/A
Carbs	4g	1%
Sugars	2g	4%
Fiber	1g	4%
Proteins	2g	3%
Cholesterol	N/A
Sodium	535mg	23%

Healthy Level

Unhealthy Level

Buy Pesto Sauce From

Classico Signature Recipes Traditional Basil Pesto Sauce & Spread (8.1 oz Jar)

^$3⁸⁹

Whole Foods Market, Basil Pesto, 6.5 Ounce

^$4⁴⁹

DeLallo Traditional Basil Pesto, 6. Ounce Jar, 6 Pack, Made in Italy, Gourmet Spread, Ready to Use Pasta Sauce

^$36²⁰

Prego Basil Pesto Sauce, 8 Oz Jar

^$3⁶⁶

BARILLA Rustic Basil Pesto Sauce, 6.5 oz. Jar - Imported From Italy - Made with Fragrant Italian Basil & Freshly Grated Italian Cheeses - Non-GMO Ingredients - Pasta Sauce, Pizza Sauce & More

^$9⁹⁸

Compagnia Sanremo Pesto DOP Basil Pesto, 6.7 oz

^$8⁹⁹

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Information is not verified and for reference purposes only. Contact vendor directly if you have any food allergies. 2000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice, but calorie needs may vary.See Nutrition

Frequently Asked Questions

How much protein is in Pesto Sauce?

3 Tablespoon of Pesto Sauce contains 2 g of protein.

How many carbs are in Pesto Sauce?

3 Tablespoon of Pesto Sauce contains 4 g of carbs.

How much fat is in Pesto Sauce?

3 Tablespoon of Pesto Sauce contains 19 g of fat.

How much sugar is in Pesto Sauce?

3 Tablespoon of Pesto Sauce contains 2 g of sugar.

How many calories are in 3 Tablespoon of Pesto Sauce?

There are 193 calories in 3 Tablespoon of Pesto Sauce.

How many calories are in 1 Cup of Pesto Sauce?

There are 923 calories in 1 Cup of Pesto Sauce.

How many calories are in 1 oz of Pesto Sauce?

There are 105 calories in 1 oz of Pesto Sauce.

How many calories are in 1 pound of Pesto Sauce?

There are 1687 calories in 1 pound of Pesto Sauce.