*notes:* This would be an awesome pesto alla calabrese, if it would contain some chilli. Since it doesn't, it's just a pretty good one. The consistency is great, it's creamy, fruity and cheesy. I really liked it. It still would have been better, if it contained <b>any amount of chilli</b>. That'll be four stars, just because the price is so good.
**Final verdict:** ★★★★☆
*barcode:* 27185261
*images:* DSC_2519.jpg, DSC_2520.jpg
### Bertolli "Pesto alla Genovese"
*Date:* 2022-09-29
*Eaten with:* Girandole
*category:* genovese, rustic
*ingredients:* basil (30%), sunflower oil, Grana Padano and Pecorino Romano Cheese (10%), cashews, dextrose, olive oil (4.5%), salt, garlic, maltodextrin, potato flakes, whey powder, pine nuts, lactic acid, basil extract.
| Category | Rating / Value |
|-------------|----------------|
| taste | 5/5 |
| consistency | 5/5 |
| ingredients | 3/5 |
| price | 2.29€ |
| size | 140g |
| servings | 2-3 |
*notes:* This is a great pesto, you taste the freshness of the basil, some nice notes from the nuts, and very importantly, the cheese. I know it technically contains too few pine nuts, but I don't think that negatively impacts the taste here.
*ingredients:* tomato puree (43%), vegetable oil (26%), rehydrated sundried tomatoes (9%), basil (5%), red peppers, cashew nuts (2%), Grana Padano cheese (2%), Pecorino Romano (2%), salt, extra virgin olive oil (1%), pine nuts (1%), carrots, garlic, acidity regulators, antixodiants.
| Category | Rating / Value |
|-------------|----------------|
| taste | 3/5 |
| consistency | 4/5 |
| ingredients | 1/5 |
| price | 1.25€ |
| size | 140g |
| servings | 2 |
*notes:* Back in the pesto review game after a long hiatus, and sadly this is not starting off on a high note. I would
say this is a below-average pesto rosso, even considering the budget class it plays in. It hits some of the targets
better than others, for example it is quite herby, probably from the basil. At the same time, it is somewhat lacking in
how nutty it tastes, and it completely lacks any sort of cheesy-richness that I would have really liked to see in
a pesto rosso. The consistency was also subpar, being just a bit too watery/oily with nothing binding it together. The ingredients are nothing to write home about (mostly tomatos and oil). Overall this is not a very good pesto.
*ingredients:* red and yellow peppers (31%), sunflower oil, grilled red peppers (20%), Grana Padano Cheese, potato flakes, walnuts (2.9%), salt, lactic acid, black pepper.
| Category | Rating / Value |
|-------------|----------------|
| taste | 1/5 |
| consistency | 1/5 |
| ingredients | 3/5 |
| price | 2.40€ |
| size | 185g |
| servings | 2 |
*notes:* There's simply nothing good to say about this one. It's oily and only faintly tastes of anything. One star, because it's not offensive.
*ingredients:* sunflower oil, tomato passata, tomato puree, rehydrated sundried tomatoes (11%), water, basil (6%), Grana Padano Cheese, egg lysozyme, paprika, red peppers, sugar, salt, Pecorino Romano Cheese, cashew nuts, pine nuts, lactic acid, garlic, flavouring, ascorbic acid.
| Category | Rating / Value |
|-------------|----------------|
| taste | 3/5 |
| consistency | 4/5 |
| ingredients | 2/5 |
| price | 0.99€ |
| size | 190g |
| servings | 2 |
*notes:* This one smells really nice and herby when put on hot pasta. Sadly the rest of the taste is less good than the initial whiff may make you believe. It's just okay.
Anton Lydike
