Can I use sunflower oil to make pesto?

Can I use sunflower oil to make pesto? - Unrecognizable crop African American female pouring essential oil in glass bottle while making liquid incense at table

I'm used to using olive oil to make pesto. However, at the moment I have a bottle of sunflower oil instead of olive oil at home. Is there going to be a problem when I make pesto with that?

I am not serving any guests with this and am personally not too fuzzy about food. But I don't want it to taste terribly.



Best Answer

I see no problem with your plans. You will - obviously - get a somewhat different taste, depending on which type of sunflower oil you use.

  • For the refined, basically tasteless oil, the pesto might be a bit blander and the taste of your other ingredients more pronounced.
  • If you are using a cold-pressed unfiltered oil, you'll get the nutty undertones of the sunflower seeds, which will work well with a classic basil / pine nut / parmesan type of pesto.

Note that many commercially sold pesto jars use only a small amout of genuine olive oil and often also skimp on the pine nuts, cheaper neutral oils and sunflower seeds are a frequent stand-in. So you should be absolutely fine.




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Can you use sunflower oil instead of olive oil in pesto?

You can use sunflower oil instead of olive oil if it's available right now. Nothing to be a problem when you make pesto with that.

Can pesto be made with sunflower oil?

Add basil, sunflower seeds, garlic, lemon juice, and salt & pepper to taste to a food processor or blender. Start the processor, slowly drizzle the olive oil into the food processor until a sauce forms. It might not be the whole 1/3 cup or it might take more until you get a consistency you like.

What oil is best for pesto?

Because pesto is such a strong sauce, anything you do to reduce its pungency just a little and steer it toward a sweeter, rounder-flavored sauce will help. That includes selecting a good, mild olive oil; using Pecorino Sardo cheese instead of Romano; and not toasting the pine nuts.

Can I use different oil for pesto?

Olive oil is traditional (and delicious), but a neutral oil like canola or grapeseed could be swapped in if you didn't want olive oil's particular grassiness distracting from other flavors.



How to Make FRESH BASIL PESTO Like an Italian




More answers regarding can I use sunflower oil to make pesto?

Answer 2

You can use sunflower oil instead of olive oil if it's available right now. Nothing to be a problem when you make pesto with that.

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