How to Pick the Best Store Bought Pesto Like an Italian
In my last Blind Pesto Taste Test, I quickly realized that eating pesto straight from the jar was not a pleasant experience. Scoring the flavours was tricky, and honestly, no one really eats pesto on its own, right? So this time, it’s a Pesto Taste Test with Pasta to find out which supermarket pesto is worth spending your money on.
I have to admit, I felt a bit sorry about the verdict I gave Jamie Oliver’s Green Pesto last time. (If you’ve been following for a while you know I like him) His pesto had the best ingredients of all the ones we tested, but I really didn’t like the taste. To give it another shot (and be fair to all the basil pesto), I cooked up some fusilli pasta and mixed each one with three teaspoons of pesto and a splash of pasta water to see how they might taste when combined with other ingredients.
I judged based on a few criteria: how well we can taste the strong basil flavour and pine nuts, the creaminess of the sauce, how well the pasta holds the pesto, the colour, and the overall balance of flavors—whether it’s too salty, or there is too much extra virgin olive oil, or if they were just right. This mission was ultimately to see if I could find the best pesto to recommend buying (when you don’t have time for homemade), to pair with your pasta dishes.
Watch How to Pick the BEST Store Bought PESTO Like an Italian
Meet the Contenders for Today’s Blind Pesto Taste Test:
- Barilla
- Sacla
- Cucina Matese
- La Molisana
- Jamie Oliver’s Pesto
- Leggo’s
- Coles Supermarket
Coles
Unfortunately, even with pasta, Coles pesto didn’t win me over. The chunks were still there, and the flavor tasted kind of artificial. It just doesn’t have that pesto taste I was looking for, and the texture wasn’t pleasant to eat either.
Score: 2/10
Leggo’s
Leggo’s was easily my least favorite. The smell was really artificial, and that bitterness carried over to the taste. The pasta didn’t hold the sauce well, and overall, it just wasn’t a good experience.
Score: 1/10
Jamie Oliver’s
In the last Blind Pesto Taste Test, I didn’t like Jamie Oliver’s pesto because of the chunky garlic. And, sure enough, I still spotted chunks here. However, with pasta, the flavor improved—no artificial taste this time. But unfortunately, it still didn’t wow me.
Score: 3/10
Sacla
This was my second favorite of the bunch. Sacla is a trusted brand, and compared to others, it had a less chunky texture, which made it smoother and creamier. The pesto sauce blended nicely with the pasta, and had a pleasant sweetness without that factory aftertaste.
Score: 7/10
Barilla
Barilla claims to follow the traditional Genovese recipe, and the consistency was nice and creamy, with fewer chunks than Sacla. Overall better than some of the other options, but it didn’t quite stand out to me in this Pesto Taste Test.
Score: 4/10
La Molisana
La Molisana wasn’t as green as Sacla, which makes sense since because it only contains 31% basil. That said, the sauce was creamy, and it worked well with the pasta. It was pleasant to eat, but I couldn’t really taste much basil. It also had a slightly lemony aftertaste. Interesting and I would absoluetly buy it, but not a stand-out.
Score: 5/10
Cucina Matese
This one impressed me. Cucina Matese had a great smell right away, and the dark green color was a sign of the larger amount of real basil in it. That’s the kind of color you want in a pesto! The basil flavor was spot on too—definitely not homemade, but a really nice, high-quality commercial pesto.
Score: 7.5/10
Pesto Taste Test Results
If you’re looking for a time-saver and don’t want to make your own basil sauce, Sacla is a solid option. I used it a lot before making everything from scratch. When you compare it to other pestos, you can really see the difference—the pasta holds the sauce well, and the color is a rich, vibrant green.
Barilla, on the other hand, is very creamy and delicate, but the color isn’t what you’d expect. It’s quite pale because it only contains 30% basil, which is why it lacks that deep green color.
La Molisana surprised me. I never liked it in the past, so I was shocked when it made my top 3 in the last taste test. It’s zesty and slightly sour, but the added sugar doesn’t belong in pesto.
Cucina Matese offers great value. Most jars are 190g, but this one is 290g for the same price—more pesto, better quality. It’s made in Molise, a beautiful region in Italy where quality is always a priority. . For me, Cucina Matese and Sacla are the clear winners. If you’re in Australia, go for Cucina Matese, but if you’re shopping worldwide, Sacla is a great choice.
I hope this helps next time you’re shopping for store-bought pesto—but honestly, nothing beats making it yourself. It’s fresher, tastes better, and you can even freeze it for later!
If you’re ready to try making pesto at home, follow my easy Basil and Pistachio Pesto recipe made with extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pecorino romano cheese. It’s perfect on a crusty italian-bread toasted sandwich, chicken, or even a pasta bake!
Once you’ve made your homemade pesto, it’s not just for pasta! Try spreading it on a pizza base for a Pesto Pizza. This recipe is also topped with burrata and the combination is sensational
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