Trapani-style Pesto

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PRESENTATION

Trapanese pesto, honestly, is a classic Sicilian dish that just screams sunny ports and cozy kitchens. Originating from Trapani—this lovely coastal spot in Sicily—it comes with a rich history. Sailors from Genoa brought their pesto, but locals made it theirs by swapping pine nuts for local almonds and adding these juicy sweet tomatoes. And you know what? This twist creates a unique red pesto that totally stands apart from the usual green kind. The almonds give it a tender texture, while the tomatoes add this fresh, almost moist flavor. Garlic and basil? Yeah, they’re there, but it’s that almond’s nutty vibe that makes it super distinctive to the island. And look, it's not just flavorful; it's a breeze to whip up—seriously good—since there's no cooking involved. So, the flavors stay bright and aromatic.

In Trapani, folks love to mix trapanese pesto with busiate pasta. This curly noodle hugs the creamy sauce perfectly. Though busiate is traditional, any pasta works. Really. The result? It’s rustic and kinda tangy. Plus, the combo of basil, tomato, and almond is a winner. Each bite's crispy and satisfying. This traditional Sicilian recipe is simple yet bursting with flavor, offering a taste of Sicily with hardly any effort. Craving something fresh and a little different? Trapanese pesto is your answer. Whether you call it Sicilian pesto, red pesto, or even almond pesto, the lively flavors and deep cultural roots make it special every single time. Bringing this dish to your table is like inviting a slice of Sicilian history into your home. Pretty much, it turns every meal into a little culinary journey to Sicily. Which is great.

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INGREDIENTS
Pizzutelli tomatoes 1 ¼ cup (250 g) - ripe
Almonds 2.5 oz (70 g)
Basil to taste
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Fine salt to taste
Red garlic 1 clove
Pecorino cheese 1 spoonful - (Sicilian, for grating)
Preparation

How to prepare Trapani-style Pesto

To prepare Trapani-style pesto, you can place the blanched almonds in the blender 1 to finely chop them 2. Then add the coarsely chopped tomatoes, basil, and a pinch of salt 3, one whole garlic clove without the skin, and blend for a few more moments.

Leave it fairly coarse in texture. Once it becomes a homogeneous mixture 4, transfer it to a bowl, add the grated Pecorino cheese 5 and oil 6.

Mix 7 to create a homogeneous mixture 8. Your Trapani-style pesto is ready to be used to dress your pasta 9.

Storage

You can store the pesto in the refrigerator for 2 days in an airtight container. It may slightly change color due to oxidation.

For better and longer storage, it is advisable to freeze the pesto in small jars.

Advice

Traditionally, Trapani-style pesto should be prepared with a mortar, like all pestos: even using a blender as we did is fine, trying to process the ingredients in batches so that the blades do not excessively heat the ingredients.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.