Pesto Rosso is a deliciously different alternative to a Basil Pesto recipe. This rich, red condiment is just what you need to add some flavour to your meal!
A plate and bowl with keto crackers and pesto rossi on a rock backdrop.

Pesto Rosso is simply pesto made with sundried tomatoes. This vibrant red pesto is a tasty and delicious addition to anything you serve it with.

Sun-dried tomatoes already have their own intense flavour from being dried. When you blend them with the other Pesto Rosso ingredients, you end up with a sauce that’s packed with delicious flavour!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Quick and easy – this recipe is so simple and fast to make. It is also a nice change from the fresh basil traditional green pesto.

Basic ingredients – all of the 6 main ingredients are basic, regular pantry items.

Adaptable and versatile – there are lots of Pesto Rosso uses! It can be a pesto rosso dip, a spread, a condiment or an ingredient in recipes with sun-dried tomato pesto.

Low carb – there are little to no carbs in this red pesto recipe!

Ingredients You Will Need

Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the quantity of each ingredient used and the full detailed recipe for this delicious sun-dried tomato pesto! Keep reading for more details on the ingredients, substitutes and step by step instructions on how to make it.

Small bowls of ingredients to make red pesto on a rock backdrop.

Almonds – This recipe uses roasted almonds. You can substitute them with nuts such as toasted walnuts, pine nuts, macadamias and cashews. You can also make a nut-free version by using pepitas, sunflower seeds or toasted hemp seeds.

Sun Dried TomatoesSundried tomatoes are available in all supermarkets or you can use homemade sundried tomatoes. Sundried tomatoes are completely dried and have an intense flavour. You can also buy semi-dried tomatoes, but the flavour is more mellow.

Garlic – I like to buy Australian Garlic whenever possible, as the flavour from freshly minced garlic cloves is much better than from jars of minced garlic.

Lemon – During lemon season, use a zester to collect the zest, and store it in a jar in the freezer. You can also freeze the juice in tablespoon-sized serves in ice block trays, and transfer the portions to an airtight container.

Chilli Flakes – If you are not a fan of spicy food, chilli flakes do not add a lot of heat, but are good to have for the flavour!

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) – Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the least processed and my preferred variant of olive oil to cook with.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this into a nut-free pesto?

It is very easy to make this into a nut-free pesto! Simply substitute the nuts for pepitas, sunflower seeds or toasted hemp seeds.

What other nuts can I use?

You can swap the almonds for walnuts, macadamias, or cashews.

How long can the Pesto Rosso be stored in the fridge?

Any pesto sauce is best used within 2-3 days of making it. If it has been left in the fridge longer, I would use it in a recipe where it gets cooked.

Is Pesto Rosso able to be frozen?

Yes, it is. Personally, I prefer it fresh but if you would like to make it in a large batch, you can freeze it in portions in an airtight container.

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How To Make Pesto Rosso

This recipe is so simple that you hardly even need instructions to know how to make red pesto!

It is as quick and easy as gathering your ingredients and blending them together! You can’t get simpler than that.

3 bowl with red pesto in it with basil leaves and lemon wedges.

What to Serve Pesto Rosso With

One of the simplest ways to serve it is as a dip with some keto crackers or an easy stir-through sauce for pasta. You can leave it slightly chunkier if you prefer dips with texture.

It is delicious as a sauce on plain grilled protein, similar to chimichurri. You can stir it through zoodles, pasta or keto pasta or cauliflower mash or use it in place of pizza sauce on a keto fathead pizza.

This recipe goes amazing in our Marry Me Chicken recipe and Tuscan Chicken Lasagne. It has a creamy red pesto sauce that is one of the best keto sauce recipes I think I have made!

More Recipes To Try

If you enjoy Italian flavours, you might like to try some of these other easy keto recipes as well!

Try this easy pesto with our Easy Zucchini Slice. A perfect match if you ask me!

Love our red pesto recipe? Then please rate the recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review to help others know that this is worth making.

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A bowl of pesto rosso and crackers on a rock backdrop with garlic and lemon to the right.

Pesto Rosso

Pesto Rosso is a deliciously different alternative to a Basil Pesto recipe. This rich, red condiment is just what you need to add some flavour to your meal!
5 from 63 votes!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Dips and Spreads
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free
Recipe Category: Low Carb
Calories: 115kcal
Author: Megan Ellam
Servings: 12 people
Tap or hover over number to scale ingredients
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Ingredients 

  • 1/3 cup (0.3 cup) almonds or toasted walnuts, see notes
  • 3/4 cup (0.75 cup) sun dried tomatoes in oil
  • 1 clove (1 clove) garlic finely minced
  • zest and juice of half a lemon
  • 1/2-1 teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) red chill flakes to taste
  • 1/2 cup (0.5 cup) extra virgin olive oil
  • salt flakes and black pepper to season

Instructions

CONVENTIONAL METHOD

  • Place all the ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

THERMAL METHOD

  • Place all the ingredients into the mixer; chop 3 sec/speed 7. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and repeat until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

Notes

Swap the almonds for toasted walnuts, macadamias or cashews. For a nut-free option, you can substitute pepitas, sunflower seeds or toasted hemp seeds.
This Pesto Rosso is dairy free but you can add 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese to the mixture and blend in. It makes a delicious pesto rosso pasta sauce or served over grilled chicken.
This recipe makes approximately 4 serves. The actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes. It is very rich so you may prefer smaller serves.
Nutritional values shown are guidelines only. They are for 1 serving using the ingredients listed. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on the brands and types of ingredients used.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Alternatively, you can store any leftover Pesto Rosso in an airtight container and freeze.
The recipe card instructions contain the most basic of steps and a list of ingredients. If you have any queries, questions or are unsure of substitutions, please scroll up to the blog post for more information.

Your Own Notes

Nutrition

Serving: 1serve | Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 337IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg | Magnesium: 22mg | Net Carbs: 1g
Tried this recipe?Mention @meganellam or tag #madcreations!

Share This Recipe

33 responses to “Pesto Rosso (Sun Dried Tomato Pesto)”

  1. Sherry

    5 stars
    I’ve been on a pesto kick lately but hadn’t had pesto rosso before. I think this is my new favorite condiment!

  2. Jeri

    5 stars
    This Pesto Rosso turned out amazing! It was easy to make and delicious with crackers. This is definitely a new favorite in our house!

  3. Amy Liu Dong

    5 stars
    Wow! This spread looks incredibly yummy! Plus it looks so enticing form it’s texture! Love the reddish look! Perfect to pair with our chips and cookies!

  4. Krystle

    5 stars
    I LOVE sun dried tomato and can’t believe I’ve never tried this before. The flavor is amazing on pasta and grilled meats.

  5. Gloria

    5 stars
    What a nice change from the traditional green pesto. I love sundried tomatoes. Now I want pasta for dinner tonight.

  6. Lynda H

    5 stars
    Very tasty Megan and love how simple it is to make โค๏ธ

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      It is so good isnt it.

  7. Sarah M

    5 stars
    Yum!! I donโ€™t have sun dried tomatoes, I used roasted red peppers and added an extra 1/3 cup of almonds. We loved it. I set some Parmesan crisps cooking, as they were done the pesto was made. It was quick, easy and tastes amazing!

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Great to hear you enjoyed it Sarah

  8. Dee

    5 stars
    Just made this today and we love it, served with a dollop of sour cream and a pork crackle for a quick snack! Thanks Megan!

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      You are very welcome

  9. nancy

    5 stars
    wow so tasty – i made this a few times. each time i experimented with a different nut like almond and cashews. SUPER tasty!

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      So happy you enjoyed it Nancy.

  10. Andrea

    5 stars
    such a great dip! love it with crackers! so so good!

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Yay! So happy you loved it.

  11. amanda

    5 stars
    Love this variation on classic pesto! It was so good, using again this weekend!

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Enjoy it!

  12. Nora

    5 stars
    It turned out perfectly! My family loved it! Thanks for the recipe!

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      You are very welcome Nora

  13. Amy

    This sounds so good, and easy too. It would be great with grilled chicken in the Summertime!

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      I hope you enjoy it Amy

  14. Anaiah

    5 stars
    Such an easy and delicious pesto! Love all the different recipes I can add it to.

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Enjoy it, Anaiah

  15. Alexandra

    5 stars
    So incredibly delicious and versatile – I am going to serve with some grilled chicken!

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      I hope you love it Alexandra.

  16. Clara

    5 stars
    A very delicious and versatile dip, sauce, topping. I make my own sun dried tomatoes for this recipe and have tried it with macadamias, pepitas and walnuts. Freezes well and everyone loves it. Thanks Megan.

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      You are very welcome Clara. I am so happy you enjoyed the pesto and took the time to come back and leave a review. Thank you x

    2. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Yay! I am so happy you are enjoying the recipe Clara.

  17. Nina

    5 stars
    I have made this twice already- first time with almonds and second time with cashews. Very easy, simple and fast to make, amazing flavour, fantastic as a dip and part of cheese platter. I love every little dip of it ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜€ It will certainly go on regular rotation together with some other amazing Megan’s pestos.

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Woohoo! Thanks Nina for giving it a try and coming back and leaving a review.

  18. Lucy D

    5 stars
    Pesto Rosso is a delicious pesto using sundried tomatoes. I love the flavour and it is great even as a dip. So simple to make with easily sourced ingredients. This red pesto is just what you need to add some flavour to your meal

  19. Daniela

    5 stars
    I can’t believe my luck that I found this recipe. I really wanted to make a pesto sauce with dried tomatoes and this amazing! Thanks heaps I will be making it on rotation for sure.

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Enjoy Daniela!

5 from 63 votes (45 ratings without comment)

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