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Liguria

Gusta Genovese Pesto from Portofino

4.6187 reviews

Basil pesto from Portofino, Liguria. Cold-processed with extra virgin olive oil.

$24.97

Purchase type
  • Cold-processed, Ligurian basil and extra virgin olive oil
  • Ships from our New York warehouse in 1-2 days
  • Free shipping over $75
Terraced basil rows on a Ligurian cliffside above a misty bay at dawn.
Place
The Ligurian coast between Portofino and the Cinque Terre is where Genovese basil has been grown for centuries. The combination of sea air, thin soil, and intense summer light gives the basil a sweetness that basil from elsewhere does not have. Pesto Genovese is the dish this region is built on.
Hands working a stone mortar with basil, pine nuts, and garlic beside a small bottle of olive oil.
Process
The basil is cold-processed within hours of harvest to prevent oxidation. Extra virgin olive oil carries the flavor without cooking it. Grana Padano, pine nuts, and a small amount of cashew give the paste its body without masking the basil. No heat at any stage.
Gloved hands spooning fresh pesto from a wooden bowl into glass jars on a worn workbench.
People
We spent years looking for a pesto that tasted like the version locals eat in Liguria. What we found in Portofino was a small operation that has been making it the same way for decades. Cold-processed, packed the same day, with basil from the coast.

What's inside

Ingredients
Olive oil, Genovese basil (14%), Grana Padano cheese, cashew nuts, extra virgin olive oil, salt, vegetable fiber, pine nuts, lactic acid, garlic, ascorbic acid, sorbic acid. No artificial colors. No artificial flavors.
Certifications
  • Made in Italy
Contains
Cashew nuts, pine nuts. May contain peanuts and other nuts.

How to use it

Stir into freshly cooked pasta off the heat. Never add pesto to a hot pan. For trofie or spaghetti, use 2 tablespoons per 100g of pasta. Also excellent on bruschetta, as a spread, or stirred into minestrone at the table. Refrigerate after opening and use within 5 days.

Cold-processed means the jar goes straight from blender to packaging. No cooking, no pasteurization. Keep it cold and use it quickly after opening.

Pairs with

From the recipe book.

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Questions

  • Does it contain dairy?
    Yes. The pesto contains Grana Padano cheese (milk). It also contains cashew nuts and pine nuts.
  • Is it nut-free?
    No. It contains cashew nuts and pine nuts. It may also contain peanuts and other nuts from shared equipment.
  • Does it contain garlic?
    Yes, a small amount of garlic is listed in the ingredients.
  • How long does it last after opening?
    Refrigerate after opening and use within 5 days.
  • Can I freeze it?
    Yes. Pesto freezes well. Portion into an ice cube tray, freeze, then transfer to a bag. Use within 3 months.
  • What pasta shape does it go with?
    Trofie is traditional in Liguria. Spaghetti and fusilli also work well. The sauce coats smooth and spiral shapes best.
  • Is it made in Italy?
    Yes. Made in Portofino, Liguria.
  • Why does it contain cashews?
    Cashew nuts give the pesto a creamier body. They are a common addition in Ligurian pesto made for wider distribution.

Reviews

Six Italian regions. Nothing reformulated. Imported direct.