Invariably simple to produce and devastatingly delicious, pesto is almost certainly the last word in quick, easy and frugal meals. Of course, it has applications outside the world of fusilli (basil pesto is, for instance, a rather delicious addition to soup), but that’s where its heart shall forever rest. For example, take this roasted red pepper pesto – in order for one’s pasta to obtain a satisfactory demise, all one need do is roast some fruit along with a little garlic, blitz it up with a few added extras and yell “Bob’s my uncle” at the top of one’s lungs. You’ll be glad to hear that the last step is not, and hopefully never will be, obligatory.
The number of different types of pesto one could dream up could, quite possibly, stretch on into eternity. However, this recipe has become a stand-out favourite since, unlike this rocket pesto, it deviates firmly from the norm. Indeed, most pesto is decidedly green, though it can be made from pretty much every herb under the sun.
As you might imagine, the flavour attained by this recipe also differs from the norm somewhat – rather than being on the fragrant side, it is rich and almost caramel. Roasted garlic is, no doubt, responsible for the presence of that particular culinary facet – and a most welcome one it is too! Enjoy!
Roasted Red Pepper Pesto {recipe}
Serves 3-4
Ingredients:
• Two red peppers
• Two cloves of garlic
• 1 red chilli
• A few walnut halves
• Juice of half a lemon
• A small handful of parmesan cheese
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• Salt
Method:
1. Pop the peppers, garlic and chilli on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and bake in the oven at 150C for 30-40 minutes until slightly charred. Remove the skin and seeds from the peppers
2. Throw everything in a food processor and whiz until it has become a paste – you may need to add another tbsp of olive oil, just to loosen it up a bit.
Cost: If one is committed to being frugal it is possible to find peppers at an extremely reasonable price – two for 70p isn’t that much of a stretch. As such, this very flavourful pesto can be made for around £1.30 – a most tempting price!
100 replies on “Roasted Red Pepper Pesto”
can’t wait to try this! 🙂
Great roasted pepper pic. And it seems pretty healthy to me!
Thanks so much – only thing is it contains plenty of fat 😀
How badly do I want a big bowl of that pasta RIGHT NOW. I’m definitely making this!!
Awesome, Korena – enjoy!
Great way to add interest, particularly for to mid-week suppers when time for cooking can be limited for me. Thanks, Tracey
Thanks, Tracey!
This sounds really wonderful!
Kenley
A great recipe for how to use up some of our prospective capsicum harvest this year. I discovered another use…adjika and ajvar, both heavy on the capsicums and both heady mixtures of thick tasty looking vegetably goodness to be spread with gusto on thick (THICK) home made bread or dolloped with abandon into just about everything when winter is trying to invade the small spaces of your home. I went hunting for recipes for these wonderful baltic type spreads because as a card carrying frugalite I always want to know how to make them myself…frugal AND they taste better. I had a great time hunting down recipes for the Russian adjika (methinks their alternative to ajvar…) and then falling off my seat laughing at the Google Translations of the predominately Russian blog sites that I found the recipes on. You never know when life is going to hand you a good laugh but you can pretty much bet on it if you go hunting for recipes in a language foreign to your own and you utilise Google Translate…I would recommend it to anyone with a bit of spare time on their hands. I couldn’t get off the floor when I found one particular French cooking blog because their translations were better than any sitcom ;). Cheers for this wonderfully unctuous looking creation that would be just as good stirred through a pan full of veggies as pasta. Another degustatory delight in the name of frugality 🙂
Indeed! I’ll check them out! Thank God for Google translate sometimes though, huh? Indeed, it could be used for some many things!
As always your food/recipes look amazing! Cheers.
thanks so much!
When you say red peppers, do you mean bell peppers, capsicum?
It doesn’t matter really, those work well though. Not chillies, mind you.
This looks so amazing and your pics are wonderful….mouth watering!
Looks incredible! I will definitely be making this asap
Let me know how it goes down!
So, so well. I used plenty of chilli for extra heat and it was really delicious. Thank you!
No problem!
Sounds yummy!
This just went on my to do list. Thanks for the post!
OH yes – this sounds amazing! Your photos are making my mouth water 🙂
This looks delicious! And nice photos.
Oh dear. I am going to have to make this. I adore roasted red pepper…but for some reason I never thought of making it myself. And pesto of any kind is perfection. Thanks for this!
Oh you must try it – it’s very simple.
I did! It changed my life. Seriously. I’m on a pesto kick now…
Also, do you know if the red pepper pesto will freeze tolerably well? Thanks again for the recipe. Amazing!
Haha! Fantastic. I have no idea, but it’ll probably last well in the fridge.
That looks great. I never add walnuts to pesto or pine nuts. So there’s even more combos there. Anyway, I haven’t tried this one. So that’ll go on the list.
Walnuts go very well, Greg!
So simple, but yummy. Love the recipe. I’ll be giving this a go.
Thanks so much! Enjoy!
This looks and sounds delicious! I will most certainly be giving this a try myself!
This is much prettier than the standard green:)
Definitely – but more difficult to photograph.
Elegance on a plate! Love the reds; looks delicious!
I think I could eat fifty bowls of that pasta. Oh boy…this could be bad!
Haha – do try not to 😀
Okay, but it’ll take some serious self-restraint. Thanks so much for sharing that recipe – I can’t wait to give it a try!
Your site is beautiful, by the way – big fan 🙂
Haha – I’m sure! No problem, glad you enjoy my stuff.
I just stumbled across your blog and like the look of your recipes 🙂 I love making pesto with a variety of different greens and nuts, but never thought to use different veggies. Thanks for the inspiration, now I’m off to have a read through your archives 🙂
Awesome – enjoy the recipes!
Yumm! This is on my list to make. Delicious!
This sounds so good! I have to admit that when I made a red pepper sauce last weekend I just bought a jar already roasted. Less sweet and less frugal, but much faster! 🙂
What if you don’t have a food processor?
a pestle and mortar would work.
Yum! I just made a chipotle roasted pepper sauce this past week! I’m a sucker for gorgeous red bell peppers! I also mixed it with pasta…sooo good! I love roasted garlic…that’s a great addition to the flavors! I will try that next time, thank you! 🙂
That sounds great!
Ridiculously easy and looks so delicious!
Thanks, Amanda – it was SO simple.
Beautiful photos you have here. Beautiful and vibrant. Love the idea of having a red chili pepper in there to give it some heat to this pesto. Lovely post.
Thanks so much, Anne!
So I was gonna try and eat less pasta, figuring all that white flour wasnt doing me any good. Now, living in Italy at the moment this is difficult enough as there is delicious pasta all around me. But now you also post amazing looking pesto dishes and it will become even more difficult! By the way, I love that you used walnuts as well – definitely more frugal than pinenuts (which they sell here with a security seal similar for alcohol bottles due to the price I reckon) and I am sure give this a lovely earthy taste (which is why I prefer using walnuts to pinenuts when making beetroot pesto). Stunning pictures as well!
Naaaah, pasta’s fine :D. Walnuts are nicer than pine nuts too! Thanks!
looks delicious!! would love to have it for lunch today 🙂
I love different pestos. This sounds lovely.
Looks delicious! And what a great idea. I’m sure the pesto could be added to simple tomato soup for a delicious roast-y flavor as well. Versatile and frugal, a great combination. Great job!
thanks! yes, that’s a good idea!
This looks wonderful. Also, I’ve nominated you for the Blogger of the Year 2012 Award. Here is the link for the info. http://ourgrowingpaynes.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/blogger-of-the-year-award-1st-star/
Thanks!
This looks just heavenly Nick – yummy! I adore anything with roasted red peppers….anything 🙂 That bowl of pasta looks like soul food at its best…
Hehe – thanks, Shira! ’twas soulful.
Beautiful and delicious! Trying this recipe tonight!
So delicious Nick – I could eat a big bowl of that right now 🙂 I love anything with roast peppers it is such a fantastic taste!
A must try recipe!
What a wonderful idea…love it!
this looks fabulous, i can’t wait to try it!!
Looks fantastic, Nick! The color is the best, isn’t it?
yes, but damn hard to photograph.
True. There are some things that are really hard to capture properly. But you always do a fine job!
Thanks, Daisy! 😀
Oh, that looks fab! Wish I could have a bowl right now as I sit here catching up on e-mails!
It’s very quick 😀
roasted garlic and peppers are always delicious aren’t they. Looks delicious.
I am a bit of a pesto addict myself! This one sounds so delicious, I loooove roasted garlic in anything so I am thinking this is definitely dinner tonight, thanks for the inspiration Frug!
Thanks, Natalie! IT really makes a divine dish!
i like the looks of this…..
perfect and a glorious colour too. c
Thanks so much, Cecilia!
SImply perfect is all.
Thanks, is all.
I will be making this ASAP!
Beautiful picture!
Yum! It looks and sounds delicious 🙂 I’m pinning this one – thanks for sharing!
Thanks 😀
This looks really really yummy!!! I have to say that I’m not a fan of roasting peppers, but I’ll do it just for this recipe. It looks so creamy!
you should. I’m surprised though, roasted peppers are to-die-for!
Those pictures are gorgeous. Really. You always take such great photos that make me want to eat the computer screen.
Thanks so much!
You really have great recipes and great photos! I love them and this I will try, we have lots of peppers in the summer and fall around here and I am always looking for great ways to prepare them. When you grow your own, it is really frugal!
thank you so much – growing your own is definitely the best way.
An absolutely wonderful idea! I love making pesto since it can be the base for just about anything you cook, so it’s nice to have a good repertoire of different ingredients for pesto! I love rocket too but boy this sounds exciting.
Oh it is exciting 😀
Trying this this weekend. Yum.
This looks AMAZING!!!
Looks great! 🙂
I’ve got an obsession with roasted red peppers at the moment and have been making vegan cheez with them. I imagine it would be easy to veganize this with a bit of nutritional yeast subbing for the cheese. Fantastic Nick!
Interesting… I have no input to give when it comes to adding nutritional yeast to anything… :D. Thanks, Somer!
This looks great! Going to try it this afternoon! A little question: how long do you think it can keep in the fridge? I have a LOT of red peppers to use! Thank you for the recipe!
I’d be happy keeping it for 3 days – but it will freeze.
[…] Check out my previous recipes for basil pesto, rocket pesto and roasted red pepper pesto. […]
Just saw a few recipes here & I m already loving this blog 🙂