Add Depth To Your Pesto With This Single Umami Ingredient

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Add Depth To Your Pesto With This Single Umami Ingredient By Maria Scinto Oct. 28, 2025 10:20 am EST

A classic pesto alla Genovese may be made with basil, garlic, olive oil, and parmesan, but pesto — which comes from the Italian verb "pestare," meaning "to crush or pound" — can actually be made from a number of different ingredients. Our food-saving magical garbage pesto (which is far more delicious than its name implies) uses up any green vegetable scraps you have on hand; but the pine nuts and parmesan aren't sacrosanct, either. Italian chef, Massimo Bottura, favors replacing pine nuts with breadcrumbs, which are more affordable and lend a buttery flavor. Chef Marcus Samuelsson , however, suggests a different pine nut alternative where a little goes a long way