A Passion For Pesto

PASSIONS | by MOLLY MARTIN

PESTO AND PASTA go together like two Ps in a pod, as we all know. But if your garden yields a banner crop of basil this summer, consider these alternate uses for pesto that spread the goodness around:

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• Fish topping: Simply brush a light coating of pesto on fish fillets or steaks, and broil. Especially good on halibut.
• Sandwich spread: Mix some pesto into mayo or yogurt to add zest to sandwiches, for example with leftover chicken.
• Pizza topping: Replace the tomato sauce with pesto, or get the best of both worlds by first lightly coating the rolled-out dough with pesto, then ladling on the tomato sauce and the rest of the toppings.
• Vegetable topper: Brush pesto on sliced veggies before grilling. Or enliven corn on the cob by brushing on pesto instead of butter.
• Salad dressing: Add olive oil, vinegar and pepper to turn pesto into a lively vinaigrette for many greens.

And when you’re ready to hit the pasta again, indulge in the Ligurian pesto extravaganza made with the trofiette, whose twists and pinched ends carry the perfect amount of pesto into each bite.