Pesto is a sauce that originated in Italy. Essentially a blend of garlic cloves, pine nuts, fresh basil leaves, coarse salt, olive oil and some parmesan cheese is what makes a traditional Pesto sauce. 

Likewise, a change in the combination of the ingredients, with the main ingredients changing like basil being substituted with green olives, sun dried tomatoes, and the usage of nuts like almonds, walnuts and cashews instead of pine nuts, give us a similar sauce, obviously with different flavour profiles and textures. 

There are various combinations that can be put together to make these Italian pesto that are freshly ground. Below are 4 Delicious and Healthy Pesto Recipes you can make and then use them across the recipes below to make various dishes.

1. Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe
2. Sundried Tomato Pesto Recipe
3. Green Olive Pesto - Pasta Sauce Recipe
4. Spirulina and Mint Basil Pesto Recipe

These pesto sauces are used not just as a base for pasta sauces, but are highly versatile in nature. 

They can be used as marinades, or as a spread on slices of bread, as the base sauce for pizzas, as a stir fry sauce for vegetables and meat, used to flavour bread rolls.  The sauce can be combined with some mayonnaise, cheese spread or cream to make a lip smacking dip and the list really is endless. 

Here are recipes that use a variety of pesto sauces, tell us how you used your pesto sauce in the kitchen.