Pesto Calabrese

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When things are busy, I like having something in the fridge I can use to whip up a meal that’s quick and fresh. Pesto Calabrese (Roasted Red Pepper Pesto) is great to have around, and makes a wonderful and tasty alternative to a traditional tomato sauce, as well as a typical basil pesto. 

Pesto Alla Calabrese

There are so many variations on pesto to be found, but what is Pesto Calabrese? Pesto Calabrese is a slightly spicy and creamy pesto from Calabria, a region in Italy. Its main ingredient is roasted red peppers. Nuts, ricotta cheese, and sometimes sun dried tomatoes are added as well. It has a creamy consistency, and can be made as spicy as you like!

Why You Will Love Pesto Calabrese

This sauce is versatile with so much flavor, and there are a number of ways to change it up a little too!

My whole family loves this pesto, and I make it often. If you garden and happen to do well growing bell peppers, this recipe is a fantastic way to use them. 

I love making this when my local market is having a sale on red bell peppers. I can buy a whole bunch and use them all up at once!

The sweet smoky notes of the red bell pepper are awesome, then there is the hint of spice from the chilies, and the creamy ricotta. This recipe is proof that pesto is not just for basil! Pesto Calabrese will add spice to your pesto life!

Pesto Calabrese Ingredients

This is a simple ingredient list and most if not all should be easy to find!

• Red Bell Peppers
• Fresno Chilies
• Garlic
• Salt and Pepper
• Ricotta Cheese
• Parmesan Cheese
• Olive Oil
• Walnuts

This is a pesto recipe with walnuts! I used walnuts in this pesto because not only do I like to mix it up from time to time, but they are much cheaper than pine nuts by a long shot. 

I’m all about saving money where I can, and walnuts are a simple swap in pesto! I normally buy my walnuts in the baking aisle of my local grocery store. They are not only unsalted, but I have found that they are cheaper in the baking section than the other sections of the store where nuts are normally sold.

How To Make Pesto Calabrese

If you are wondering how to make bold flavorful pesto calabrese, it is so easy! 

1. Cut the tops off the peppers and cut them in half lengthwise. 
2. Roast and peel the peppers.
3. Add the ingredients to a food processor.
4. Pulse and process until you have a creamy Calabrian Pesto!

Peeling the roasted red bell peppers and the Fresno chili is actually pretty simple. You can do this one of two ways: either wait for them to cool and simply peel the skin off, or place the still warm peppers in a gallon freezer bag and seal it shut. Wait a few minutes and you will find that the steam trapped inside the bag goes a long way to help get the skin off the peppers!

In either case, all you need is your fingers to peel the skin off. There are no special tools needed to peel them.

Whichever method you decide to use, you may find that the skin is a bit stubborn and won’t come off in some places. That’s ok! Just do what you can to get as much skin off as possible. I have made this recipe many times with a little skin still left on the peppers, and it has not affected the outcome at all.

There is a little more to this recipe than what I’ve explained here, this is just a basic overview of what you’ll need to do. For complete instructions, head on down to the end of the post to the recipe card. It has all the info you need!

Equipment Needed

• Rimmed Baking Sheet
• Food Processor
• Knife

If you have a very large mortar and pestle and want to make this the old school way, you can certainly give it a try. Most of us probably don’t have one laying around, but most of us do have a food processor. If you don’t, a decent quality high powered blender will also work.

Pesto Calabrese Recipe Tips

• If you don’t want to heat up your house by turning on your oven, you can use a gas or charcoal grill to roast these. 
• Once the peppers are cooked the whole sauce comes together in a flash with a few pulses in the food processor. 
• If you know you don’t have time to make the pesto right away, roast and peel your peppers, put them in a freezer bag to store in the refrigerator, and make the pesto another day. 

Recipe FAQ

Recipe Variations

There are a few substitutions I can suggest if you either don’t have certain ingredients on hand, or if you’d just like to change this up a little!

• Pine Nuts or Almonds instead of Walnuts.
• Add some Sun Dried Tomato (Replace two of the red bell peppers with about a quarter cup of sun dried tomatoes).
• Use Calabrian chilies instead of fresno chilies if you can find them.

How To Use Pesto Calabrese

How do you eat Pesto Calabrese? I really enjoy the versatility of this sauce.

My favorite way to eat it is on a hoagie roll with homemade meatballs. In fact, my recipe for handmade oven baked meatballs is a great pairing with this sauce. It is also great as a base for pizza, and delicious on grilled or baked salmon, or chicken. This pesto makes a great substitute for basil pesto in my Pesto Butter Salmon as well.

It can be tossed with some cooked pasta and steamed veggies for a quick and light dinner, perfect for those nights when you just want to relax after a long day. 

You can use this sauce on most any type of pasta you like. If you make a double batch, it is a terrific alternative to marinara in a lasagna!

Why use mayonnaise when you can use this as a condiment on sandwiches?

This also makes a great veggie dip for a crudite platter, or serve it with crackers as part of a charcuterie board.

You could also try this with my recipe for Garlic Scape Ravioli if it’s garlic scape season. 

This sauce will keep in the fridge in a tightly wrapped bowl or other container with a lid for up to a week. I have not tried freezing this pesto, so I am unsure of what the results would be if it were frozen.

If you tried this Pesto Calabrese recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Just leave a rating or comment below. To share, take a picture and tag me @thecoppertable on Instagram. You can share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or other social platforms you might use. You can also pin to a Sauces, Italian Food, or Pasta board on Pinterest! 

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