OK, I know fresh is 10 times better, but sometimes, a spoonful of ready made mixed with chopped mushrooms, frozen peas, salt, pepper, 5 or 6 cherry toms halved and a chopped fresh chilli with a splash of water all mixed in to cooked pasta is pretty damned good! If you have any fresh basil knocking around it makes it all the better.

I bought it in jars once or twice, but they didn't do it for me.

However when I lived in Ireland, there used to be a market once a week in a nearby town. During the summer months there was a stall with all kinds of olives, pesto, sun blushed tomatoes, even pesto made with smoked dried tomatoes.
That was the only place I would buy ready made pesto from. To die for they were.

I think they also had a stall in the English Market in Cork.

We get our Pesto from a deli, so technically it is home-made just not by me

At a push I will use M&S's Pesto.

I've tried a couple from supermarket own and sacla and didn't think much of them at all.

I make do with lemon peel, garlic, basil & parsley all chopped up together add grated parmesan and then enough oil as you like.

I usually have those ingredients and don't usually have pine nuts and it's just a bit easier, especially when without a blender. More of a variation on a gremolata.

I don't know how but I have only ever had it in jars...

It is now on my list of things to do, make pesto!

I really like Sacla pesto, tbh I prefer it to homemade

I prefer red pesto to the original green pesto - great flavour!

Scala fiery chilli pesto is great.

Got to be honest I love a ready made for a quick meal on a work night


This is a lovely variation
http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/grocerie...=1334734866927

Might have it this weekend

Asda do an own-brand of pesto which is surprisingly good and surprisingly authentic - basil, olive oil, pine nuts, pecorino. No sunflower oil, almonds, parsley or any other cheap 'filler' ingredients.

I have made it myself but the problem was getting enough basil for a decent quantity - I think I bought about half a dozen 25g packets which were going cheap.

I do this too, but add porridge oats in place of pine nuts, which give the same texture. They work surprisingly well and don't alter the taste. Only need a small handful.

I make my own pesto in the summer, when we grow our basil, but I buy Sacla in the winter - it's not bad at all.

Sacla is not bad. Of course fresh is far nicer but the jarred sun dried tomato is not half bad IMO. This comes from someone who nearly always makes his own.

I'm with you on that, some of the jar pestos are very good although I make my own in the summer.

Dress is my favourite brand, seems to taste so authentic.

Fresh is only better if you know how to make it properly! I've had some terrible homemade pesto at friends barbecues.

Make my own when I have the ingredients or if it’s for a meal with friends or family but also like the jars.

My local farm shop does a lovely fresh one but it's hugely expensive.

I really like the M&S green jar and the Dress Italian red pepper and walnut one.

Very true!