Tomato Pesto Cocktail Sauce Recipes

TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Combine the tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper, to taste, in a blender and puree until smooth. Add the cheese and blend briefly just to mix. Transfer to a bowl and adjust the seasoning.

ZITI WITH TOMATO-PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain.
• Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium-low heat, mix together the pesto and basil tomato sauce. Bring to a simmer, and season with salt to taste. (You can also heat the sauce in a covered microwave-safe bowl: cook on high for one minute.)
• Place pasta in a large serving bowl. Toss with pesto-tomato sauce. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Place sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl and cover with warm water for 5 minutes, or until tender.
• In a food processor or blender combine sun-dried tomatoes, basil, parsley, garlic, pine nuts and onion; process until well blended. Add vinegar, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes and red wine, and process. Stir in olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt to taste.

SPAGHETTI WITH QUICK PESTO TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Set up your grill for cooking with direct and indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• Make the tomato sauce: Combine the tomatoes along with their juices, butter, red pepper flakes, bay leaves, onion halves and a pinch of salt in a very large saucepan or skillet. Place over the indirect-heat side of the grill and bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally and using a potato masher to smash the whole tomatoes at the halfway mark. Discard the onion and bay leaves.
• Make the pesto: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the garlic and nuts until chopped. Add the basil with a pinch of salt and pulse until it makes coarse crumbs. Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the Parmesan and olive oil. Mix until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place a large pot of salted water over the direct-heat side of the grill and bring to a boil. Cook the pasta 2 minutes less than the package directions, then scoop out into the tomato sauce, adding 1/2 cup pasta water. Toss to coat, then remove from the heat. (If the pasta is too dry, add some more pasta water.) Stir half the pesto mixture into the pasta. Plate and serve immediately with more pesto over the top.

ROASTED TOMATO SAUCE WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet skin side down. Roast until the tomatoes become soft and fragrant, about 20 minutes. Let stand until cool enough to handle; then chop coarsely.
• Heat 2 teaspoons of the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 1 clove of the garlic and the onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes with all of their liquid. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in the red-pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Taste and add more salt if needed.
• Meanwhile, bring a small pot of water to the boil. Add the basil leaves and blanch for 5 seconds. Drain and rinse under cold running water. Drain well. Place the basil in a blender with the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil, the remaining garlic, the pine nuts, cheese and water. Blend until pureed, stopping several times to scrape down the sides of the jar.
• Just before serving, spoon the pesto on top of the tomato sauce and swirl it in to create a marbled effect. Serve over cooked pasta.

PESTO TOMATO TOAST

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375.
• Place bread on ungreased sheet.
• Spread each slice with a scant tbsp of pesto.
• Top with tomato and sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake about 8 minutes or til hot and cheese is melted.

TOMATO-PESTO COCKTAIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Tip: If you don't want to invest in an entire bottle of cognac, you can purchase small "sample" sized bottles of it at the liquor store. I was able to find 50 milliliter (approximately 1/4 cup) bottles of V.S. Hennessey cognac-among other offerings: white rum, whiskey, etc. -fyi.
• In a small skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the onion and gently sautè until light golden brown and slightly caramelized; approximately 10 minutes. DO NOT cook over too high of heat! Reduce heat if necessary.
• The objective is to caramelize the onions, not burn them.
• Increase heat to medium; add the diced tomatoes, salt and pepper.
• Continue cooking until the mixture has softened and all liquid released by the tomatoes has evaporated. The mixture should be thickened after about 15-20 minutes of cooking.
• Scrape the tomato mixture into a mixing bowl and set aside to cool.
• Stir in the mayonnaise, pesto and cognac. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
• Chill until ready to serve. Yield is estimated.