Pesto Herb Oil

This pesto herb oil lends itself to any number of dishes and is the professional touch to pizzas and focaccias. Bright and fresh, garlicky and herby, it’s perfect with steamed veggies, fish, chicken, seafood, or beef.  It’s incredible on pasta and bread – either adding it to the dough or acting as a finishing oil or dipping sauce.  And a must on pizza, both before baking as a drizzle over the ingredients (or crust), then again once it comes out of the oven to spritz it up with a quick drizzle.

I’ve adapted Peter Reinhart’s original recipe that he published in his most recent book Perfect Pan Pizza.  The first batch I made was used up much more quickly than I expected so I doubled the recipe as noted below.

If you don’t have prepared pesto – just leave it out. It guilds the lily for Peter’s basic recipe – but I like to use it because it uses up our basil.

Pesto Herb Oil

An all-purpose herb oil that shines bright with adding a few spoonfuls of prepared pesto. Adapted from Peter Reinhart's Herb Oil. (see link)

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Prep Time 10 mins

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups olive oil extra virgin or full-bodied (your choice)
• 2 tbsp prepared pesto
• 2 tbsp dried basil
• 2 tbsp dried parsley
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp fresh or dried rosemary needles
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 2 tbsp granulated garlic or 10 cloves fresh minced garlic
• 1 tsp chili pepper flakes optional

Instructions

 

• Combine all ingredients in a large jar with a lid. Shake vigorously. If you have a squeeze bottle then that works great to squeeze on a finishing drizzle over pizzas and focaccia. I snip the top off the bottle almost down to the rim to prevent the herbs from getting stuck.

Notes

Store in the refrigerator the jar to prevent spoilage. If it solidifies in the refrigerator, bring the oil to room temp before using by putting it in a bowl of warm water.  

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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