The Pistacchissimo signature pistachio pesto ranking!
9.0/10
Pistachio pesto is a very useful ingredient for preparing savory pistachio-based dishes (pasta, pizza, fillings, etc.), but they are not all the same and are not suitable for every occasion. Choosing is not easy, but once again Pistacchissimo comes to your aid with what is shaping up to be the largest (and most reliable) pistachio pesto ranking available on the web, to discover which ones are the best!
Naturally, in many cases, there are very similar pestos, where the slight differences in ranking positions are completely irrelevant, because they are all excellent products.
Also, remember that although pistachio pesto is ALMOST always the best choice for savory recipes, in some cases, natural pistachios might turn out to be a better fit.
MY FAVORITES
The pestos I prefer for taste and pistachio intensity.
Bacco - Pesto alla Brontese 80% (Bronte)An extraordinary pesto, at the top of my favorites, thanks to its extremely intense pistachio taste and high percentage; furthermore, it can be found both online and in some supermarkets! Made with 80% Bronte pistachio DOP, it is certainly the top of the Bacco line (in fact, there are also 65% and 70% non-DOP pestos). Given the high percentage, the pesto is very dense and the pistachio taste is intense and well-defined, with the oil almost imperceptible. As soon as you open it, it releases an intense pistachio aroma and you can even enjoy it straight with a spoon, as well as for seasoning savory dishes. It is not cheap at all, but the cost is justified by quality and availability. Buy: online and supermarkets |
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LorCam (Bronte)A fantastic roasted pistachio pesto made entirely with Bronte pistachio DOP produced by the same company. The pistachio percentage is 75%, really very high, but above all with top-quality raw materials. The pistachio taste is truly intense and enjoying this pesto is a real pleasure. The roasting is very light, thus keeping the typical sweetness of Bronte pistachio unaltered. You might perceive a pinch more salt compared to other pestos, but it depends on the choice to use it as a natural preservative, given that there are no artificial preservatives present. It is not cheap, with a price of €7.50 for 190g, but quality comes at a price and the value for money is still exceptional. Buy: official website |
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9.0/10
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Evergreen (Bronte)A fine pistachio pesto made with the Bronte pistachio DOP from the same company. The pistachio percentage is 60%, with extra virgin olive oil. If consumed directly, the olive oil is quite strong, but just remove a little oil from the surface and mix it into the preparation of a first course to release all the flavor of the Bronte pistachio, as well as the typical green color. It is not cheap, with a price of €9 for 190g, but it is justified by the quality of the raw materials, guaranteed by one of the best companies in Bronte. Buy: official website |
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DoSicily (Bronte)An artisanal pistachio pesto made in Bronte with the company's own pistachios. The pistachio percentage is 55%, apparently not very high, but more than sufficient thanks to the high quality of the raw material. As soon as you open it, you will smell an intense aroma of roasted pistachio and notice the incredibly creamy consistency. It is not cheap, with a price of €6.90 for 190g, but quality comes at a price, so the value for money is excellent. Buy: official website |
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9.0/10
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AromaSicilia (Bronte)For those looking for the natural taste of Bronte pistachio DOP, the pistachio pesto produced by AromaSicilia is a real jewel. The pistachio percentage is 80%, truly impressive. Once opened, you will find yourself in front of a real pistachio paste, with a wonderful green color and some larger flakes that provide excellent chewiness. The pistachio taste is very natural and well-defined, even if the abundant salt (but not excessive!) will remind you a lot of roasted and salted pistachios. It is not cheap, with a price of €7 for 190g, but the amount is more than justified by the top-quality material, therefore excellent value for money. Buy: official website |
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2ND TIER
Santoro / L'isola gourmet - Pistachio Pesto (Sicily)
9.0/10
We are talking about another truly excellent pistachio pesto, produced by Santoro, which you can also find under the "L'isola gourmet" brand, which is very easily found in large retail supermarkets. Made with a pistachio percentage of 51% (label), salt, pepper, and sunflower seed oil.
Despite the percentage, which is not very high, the pistachio taste is natural, sweet, and intense, making it a highly recommended pesto. If we also consider the price, which is very low (about €3.50), it is a product to be seriously taken into consideration. Of course, the price must be related to the quantity of pistachio, a factor to keep in mind if you have to make a recipe that involves discarding the oil from the pesto.
- Pros: sweet pistachio taste, excellent value for money, can be eaten directly, available in large retail chains
- Cons: pistachio percentage not very high
Bronte Store - Pistachio Pesto (Sicily)
9.0/10
We continue with another truly exquisite pistachio pesto, produced by the company Bronte Store (note: on their website you will find it with the new label), made with a pistachio percentage of 60% (label), salt, pepper, nutmeg, and sunflower seed oil.
The percentage is average, but the flavor is definitely above average with a sweet and natural pistachio taste, never covered by the oil. Very interesting is the gluten-free certification (declared on the website and on the label), which ensures a production chain without contamination.
The price of almost €6 for 190 grams is not very low, but not among the highest either, thus offering average value for money.
- Pros: sweet pistachio taste, can be eaten directly
- Cons: slightly high price
3RD TIER
Dolce Pistacchio - Pistachio pesto (Sicily)
8.0/10
An excellent pesto, with an artisanal finish, produced in Bronte by "Schilirò Giuseppe" and available online on the website DolcePistacchio.it. The pistachio percentage is 70% (label) and the pistachio is all Sicilian (even if not DOP certified), therefore with a nice color and excellent organoleptic characteristics. Excellent presence of olive oil, which accompanies the sunflower seed oil.
It is an excellent pesto, which can also be used directly (for example on bruschetta), which also releases an excellent aroma. The only flaw is the type of grinding, which creates a "flaky" effect on the palate, which slightly reduces the perception of the pistachio taste, preventing the product from reaching the maximum score.
The cost of €5.50 for 180 grams of product is not excessive, especially if you consider that it is Sicilian pistachio (and not foreign), as well as the presence of olive oil (even if not totally). Excellent possibility to buy it online (click here).
- Pros: good value for money
- Cons: type of grinding
Bacco - Pesto alla Brontese 70%
8.0/10
We are talking about another truly good pistachio pesto, produced by Bacco and widely available both online and in large retail supermarkets. Made with a pistachio percentage of 70% (label), salt, pepper, and extra virgin olive oil. This is one of the many pestos produced by Bacco (in fact, there are 65%, 70%, and 80% formats, some also in the DOP variant).
Once opened, you will find yourself in front of a real very dense pistachio grind, without floating oil. If tasted plain, the taste of olive oil is a bit invasive, although balanced by a significant percentage of pistachio, but when mixed into cream it softens significantly.
It is not cheap, with a price of €5.99 for 190g, but it is of good quality and really easy to find!
- Pros: available in large retail chains
- Cons: taste of olive oil if eaten plain, rather expensive
4TH TIER
Passioni - Pistachio Pesto
8.0/10
Here is another pesto very easy to find in supermarkets, the Passioni brand, in fact, can be found in Auchan and Simply chains throughout Italy. Besides selling good pistachio gelato, they also offer an excellent pistachio pesto!
The 75% percentage (label) is among the highest and, also thanks to the good quality of the pistachio, the product is very interesting and enjoyable. The seed oil is not very noticeable and, especially if mixed with cream or béchamel, the pistachio flavor turns out to be quite intense.
The value for money (fluctuates between €3 and €4) and the easy availability make it one of the most recommended at the supermarket.
- Pros: high percentage of good pistachio, available in Auchan and Simply supermarkets
- Cons: no flaws in its category
Bacco - Pesto alla Brontese 65%
8.0/10
We are talking about another truly easy-to-find pistachio pesto, produced by Bacco, made with a pistachio percentage of 65% (label), salt, pepper, and sunflower seed oil. This is one of the many pestos produced by Bacco (in fact, there are 65%, 70%, and 80% formats, some also in the DOP variant).
Once opened, you will find yourself in front of a rather dense pistachio grind, well mixed, without floating oil. The pistachio taste is natural and is not contaminated too much by the oil (also thanks to the use of an oil with a delicate taste).
It is not among the cheapest, with a price of about €5 for 190g, but not very expensive either and in any case of good quality and really easy to find practically everywhere!
- Pros: no floating oil, widely available in large retail chains
- Cons: slightly expensive
Gusto Etna - Pistachio Pesto
8.0/10
A pesto that is quite easy to find, even in supermarkets, is the one produced by "Gusto Etna", based in Bronte. The pistachio percentage is 60% (label), not very high, but sufficient to ensure a good pistachio taste.
The consistency is truly excellent, with a full-bodied and granular grind; furthermore, the oil is not excessively invasive (despite being sunflower seed oil). The color is a bit yellowish, which suggests that the pistachio is foreign *, but in any case, the pistachio taste is there and it is good. It does not reach very high aromatic levels, like those of the best DOP pestos with olive oil, but if you find it at the supermarket, it is undoubtedly an excellent option.
The cost in supermarkets is variable, but it does not exceed €4 for 190g, therefore excellent value for money, even considering large retail distribution.
- Pros: excellent value for money
- Cons: a lot of sunflower seed oil
* the company wants to specify that the color depends on pasteurization at 110 degrees (we cannot verify, but we limit ourselves to reporting)
5TH TIER
Antonio Castiglione - Pistachio pesto
7.0/10
In the fourth tier, we find one of the easiest pestos to find in supermarkets (I found it easily even in Rome), as well as one with good value for money, the one produced by "Antonio Castiglione", based in Bronte. The pistachio percentage is 75% (label), very high, which is possible (at reasonable costs) because as clearly indicated in the ingredients, the pistachio is of Iranian origin (do not be confused by the fact that the manufacturing company is located in Bronte).
This is a good option when you need large quantities (for example "lasagna for 20 people") and you want to be sure to have a good result without spending too much. In my opinion, this pesto cannot be consumed as a direct condiment, as the flavor of the oil is excessively present; therefore, I recommend draining it as much as possible and proceeding to mix it with cream or béchamel (to enhance the sweetness of the pistachio).
The cost in supermarkets is variable, but it never exceeds €4 for 190g (sometimes only €3).
- Pros: good value for money, easy availability
- Cons: the oil is too noticeable if consumed directly
Sicilia Perfetta - Pistachio pesto
7.0/10
This pesto also falls into the second tier and there is not much to write because the considerations made for the previous one (Antonio Castiglione) apply entirely to this one as well: it is in fact the exact same product (label comparison)!
Same facility, same contacts, same 75% pistachio (label), only the brand changes, which in this case is "Sicilia Perfetta", also based in Bronte. Although not expressly indicated, it is presumable that this pistachio is also of foreign origin.
- Pros: good value for money, easy availability
- Cons: the oil is too noticeable if consumed directly