Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Pesto Cream Sauce

****REPOST!!****
This has been our top recipe for the past 30 days...I figured since we have so many new readers, you won't want to miss this one!

We love pesto in our family. The kids even love it. There is nothing better then a creamy pesto sauce...and it goes perfect with gnocchi (which we will be posting the recipe for that on Thursday). It also works with any other pasta as well...and it is super easy! 


Start by making the regular pesto sauce.

2 cups basil
2 cups Parmesan cheese
1 medium garlic clove
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
1 1/2 -2 cups of olive oil

Mix all the dry ingredients in a food processor until finely chopped. Mix in the olive oil while blending on high speed until completely Incorporated and the consistency you like.

Then for the cream portion.
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup Parmesan cheese
Pesto

Melt the butter, and then add flour. Once the roux is created, add the cream. Stir until warm. Add cheese. Once the Parmesan cheese is all melted, add the pesto. Stir  and keep warm until ready to add to pasta.  



19 comments:

Robin said...

I usually freeze leftover pesto in ice cube trays so that I can pull out 1 cube for a single serving instead of leftovers the next day. Do you kow if this sauce freezes well?

Clements Family said...

I am sure you could, but we don't really recommend it. There might be some separation between the cream and the oil. But it is always worth a try! If you do, let us know!!

Court said...

Hello! I just found your recipe when I googled "pesto cream sauce," and just had to tell you how AMAZING it was! My husband and I ate it with some cheese tortellini and it was phenomenal. Thank you for posting!

Clements Family said...

Thanks Court! I am glad that you liked it!!

Susan at www.ugogrrl.com said...

This looks heavenly! I love PESTO and who doesn't love cream. I will let my basil plant get a littler larger and then give this a try! I can't wait!

Rachelle said...

This recipe sounds astoundingly delicious. It has everything I love--and then the thought of adding yummy gnocchi too just puts it over the top. Thanks for sharing! Do you have any tips for places to buy cheap basil?

Clements Family said...

Rachelle,
I wish we had some good tips for cheap basil! It is so expensive! We have started growing our own actually! And it is super easy!

Aubrey said...

How do you measure the basil? Tightly packed or do you just place leaves in a cup until it is full...I want to make some this weekend...my Basil is ready :)

Clements Family said...

We just put it in the cup until it is full! A couple handfuls should be great. Lucky you to have fresh basil!!

Aubrey said...

Yum!! I made some of this for dinner one night and decided to try freezing some pesto it was so good. I used some of my frozen pesto and it tasted great, so next year I am going to grow more basil...thanks for the great recipe!! I'm looking forward to eating the rest of my frozen pesto soon :)

tokyojinja.com said...

I freeze pesto in baby food jars. Tonight I found your recipe, defrosted a jar and then did the cream part. Fantastic and super easy!!!

Brenda T. said...

I made this last night with my homemade pesto and I used 1/2 & 1/2. It was fabulous! I will be making this again! Thanks for the great recipe.

Brenda T. said...

I made this sauce last night with my homemade pesto and I used half & half instead of heavy cream. It was fabulous! Thanks for sharing this recipe.

Phyllis said...

WOW!! This was delicious! Thank yo so much. I've been looking for a creamy pesto sauce and yours was so simple and delicious.
I did add 5 or 6 cloves of garlic - we like garlic. And wasn't sure if you use shredded or grated parmesan. I used shredded and loved the texture and strands of melted cheese. Thank you for sharing. My husband loved it and so did my BFF.

Phyllis said...

WOW!! This was delicious! Thank yo so much. I've been looking for a creamy pesto sauce and yours was so simple and delicious.
I did add 5 or 6 cloves of garlic - we like garlic. And wasn't sure if you use shredded or grated parmesan. I used shredded and loved the texture and strands of melted cheese. Thank you for sharing. My husband loved it and so did my BFF.

Aaron Gleeson said...

Found this after making my own version. I had never made nor heard of pesto and cream together during my professional cooking days. I wanted pesto, but wanted to use it to top an Italian style Cordon Bleu (Pesto, Ham, Salami, Provolone.... wrapped and rolled in a 'tenderized/pounded' chicken breast... flour, egg wash, bread crumbs (roasted garlic, oregano, basil seasoned).
For my sauce, I was concerned about the oil in the pesto breaking the traditional Supreme Sauce so I added the pesto to the roux before adding chicken stock and milk, season to taste. Thick and creamy, minimally oily and super tasty.

sushiz said...

I'm definitely going to try this!

wattle_girl said...

I have been buying pesto sauce from the Farmers' Markets for a few years, but lately it hasn't been available. I found your recipe and made it exactly as per your instructions. It is the b-e-s-t I have tasted. I will be making my own from now on!

Clements Family said...

Thanks everyone! Glad you like it!!