Definition of "pesto" [pes•to]

• A sauce consisting of usually fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, and grated cheese. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Add a quarter pound of lardo, and mash ingredients together until pesto is smooth."
• "Add two-thirds cup grated Parmesan and a quarter-cup olive oil, stirring until the pesto is smooth and creamy. — chefs Tony Mantuano and Sarah Grueneberg, Spiaggia in Chicago"
• "Then, all winter I can grab pesto from the freezer by the cubed tablespoonful."