Red pesto

The word pesto simply means ‘to pound’ or ‘to crush’ in Italian. Traditional green pesto, or pesto alla genovese to give it its proper name, is a simple mixture of basil, pine nuts, Parmesan and olive oil. Red pesto however, or pesto rosso in Italian, enjoys the addition of flavourful sun-dried tomatoes and roasted red peppers, and is fantastic stirred through a big bowl of pasta or a tomato and mozzarella salad. Red pesto is also a great sauce base for pizza or bruschetta, and I sometimes like to stir a spoonful through a bowl of buttery mashed potato.

You can make it the traditional way with a pestle and mortar, or for a quick version just pop everything into a food processor and give it a few short bursts until you get the right consistency.