$14.95
There are few things in the pantry more reliably useful than a genuinely good pesto. Not the flat, oily, vaguely green paste that lines supermarket shelves in every suburb, but a real one, vibrant and aromatic, with the kind of fresh herb depth that makes pasta feel like it came from a kitchen that cares. Pukara Estate has been producing premium extra virgin olive oil and fine food products from their Hunter Valley estate for years, earning a reputation built entirely on quality, provenance, and a refusal to cut corners. Their Basil Pesto is exactly what you would expect from a producer who presses their own oil and understands that the difference between a good ingredient and a great one is usually patience. Made in Australia from at least 81% Australian ingredients, with real basil, cashews, extra virgin olive oil, and parmesan, this is the pesto that earns a permanent place in the pantry.
Fresh, vibrant, and unmistakably herbaceous with the clean, sweet character of real basil leading from the first spoonful. The cashews bring a soft, creamy nuttiness that rounds out the edges without competing with the herb, while the parmesan adds a quiet savoury depth and the extra virgin olive oil carries everything together with a smooth, grassy richness. A touch of garlic and pepper give it just enough backbone to hold its own in a sauce or a dressing without overwhelming anything it is paired with. Sweet, nutty, herbal, and genuinely satisfying in a way that convenience products simply never manage.
Toss through freshly cooked pasta for a meal that takes five minutes and tastes like far more effort went in. Spread in place of butter in a sandwich with grilled vegetables, fresh mozzarella, and good bread for a lunch that is genuinely worth looking forward to. Stir through a potato salad in place of dressing for a herbaceous, creamy result that works beautifully alongside grilled meats at any gathering. Add two generous tablespoons to 150ml of cream, warm gently, and pour over grilled chicken or salmon for a sauce that sounds fancy and takes under ten minutes. Use as a pizza base in place of tomato, as a dip for crusty bread, as a spread on a cheese board, or dolloped over a fried egg on sourdough for a breakfast that asks nothing of you and gives quite a lot back.
A simple Pesto Pasta with freshly grated parmesan, a crack of black pepper, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil remains one of the most satisfying quick meals in existence and this pesto does it complete justice. Stirred through a Pesto Pasta Salad with pine nuts, cherry tomatoes, fresh peas, and torn basil it becomes the kind of dish that disappears at every gathering before anything else does. A Pesto Cream Sauce over pan-seared chicken thighs with a handful of baby spinach wilted in at the end is a weeknight dinner that requires almost no thought and produces genuinely restaurant-worthy results. Spread generously inside a toasted Bruschetta with roasted capsicum and fresh ricotta it makes an entree that is as beautiful as it is effortless. And a simple Pesto Confetti Salad of thinly sliced baby cucumbers and radish dressed with pesto, natural yoghurt, and a drizzle of lemon olive oil is a five-minute side dish that looks like it took considerably longer.
Made in Australia from at least 81% Australian ingredients by Pukara Estate, Hunter Valley, New South Wales. Contains nuts and dairy. Not suitable for those with nut or dairy intolerances. Please refer to product packaging for full allergen information.
Ingredients: Basil Puree (26%) [Basil (90%), Canola Oil, Ascorbic Acid], Vinegar, Cashews, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic, Parmesan Cheese [Milk, Salt, Cultures, Enzyme], Sugar, Salt, Pepper.
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Refrigerate after opening.
