Never limit yourself to store-bought and basil pesto - this recipe book will set you free. Lots of mouth-wateringly gorgeous photos - without captions to say which lovely recipe they depict, though.

I wasn't sure how Ms. Woodier was going to write an entire cookbook about pesto. My view of what defined "pesto" was naively very narrow. What a neat book this is, showing readers just how inclusive and varied pesto can be! I am inspired to make many of the recipes here. I am so impressed by the author's creativity-- carrot tops! rosemary! baby kale!-- and the options she offers for using pesto. I will definitely be buying a copy when the book is released in April, and recommend you keep an eye out for a copy.

A pesto cookbook is something I thought could be interesting, but could also be bad. I mean, how many ways can you make pesto? I was wrong, and the answer is a lot. There are all types of recipes, even for deserts! I liked how basically you can use anything for pesto. Even just changing one or two ingredients in the traditional recipe will be a new ingesting twist. There are tips for using up what ingredients you have on hand, and storage. There are some vegan recipes. As I am a vegetarian, I skipped the seafood, poultry and meat sections. However, there's was a nice vegetarian section for me as well.
Great place to explore a food so easy to make! Some recipes even use earlier pesto sauce, to build upon them. A great addition to any kitchen.

This book has some really great and different pesto recipes. There is a lot of variety outside of the basic basil pesto and the ingredients should be easy to find in the average grocery store. I also like that the book includes recipes where the pesto is used. There are quite a few main dishes I would like to try using these pestos! This is more than just a book with pesto recipes.

I may have squealed with delight when I was approved to review an ARC of The Pesto Cookbook! I have a few food obsessions, and pesto is most definitely one of them. Just a touch of the green stuff can make any dish more flavorful and interesting.

That said, this book goes well beyond the green stuff as you can see on the cover. The variety of recipes offered was impressive. Different herbs to use in pesto, different cheeses, aiolis, dressings, and on to entrees that incorporate all the unique pesto within the recipes. Spectacular photos were available throughout. The author also incorporated cooking tips. This book is much more well-rounded than it may appear by the title.

Reading this was just the push I needed to get an AeroGarden this winter. The author covers this topic in a user-friendly way. I don't want to be without basil, so I should probably invest the time.

Overall, this is a like a pesto recipe encyclopedia. 😋 I will be making several of the recipes, and as with all my cookbook reviews, I will update once I have tried a few.

Thanks to Olwen Woodier, Storey Publishing, and Netgalley, for the opportunity to read an early copy of this yummy book.

This is a beautiful cookbook! In addition to the 49 pesto recipes it also contains additional meal recipes to accompany the pestos. The photography is lush and the recipes are mouth-watering. I cannot wait to make these pestos and have flavorful salads, vegetables and main entrees.

This is a cookery book on how to make various pesto's and their uses in many recipes for fish, meat, starters and even desserts. Easy to follow instructions in the making of the pesto and the recipes. It is full of vibrant photography which adds a great depth to this book.

Only criticisms are the measurements are in cups rather than metric, though there is a conversion table in the rear of the book and some of the ingredients are called something different in Britain, so it would be nice to have a glossary to accompany it.

Delicious recipes. For pesto lovers, this book gives very creative and interesting recipes with colourful accents. Sublime!

This book gives very interesting options to try new pasta dishes. Using a wide variety of ingredients, with easy to follow guidelines this book is great for those who want to innovate in their cooking. I will definitely be trying some of this new to me fantastic pesto sauces!

Who knew that you can make pesto with dozens of herbs and other ingredients! While most of us think of pesto as that wonderful sauce made with basil and pine nuts with variations, The Pesto Cookbook: 116 Recipes for Creative Herb Combinations and Dishes Bursting with Flavor by Olwen Woodier, takes the term “pesto” to another level. In this excellent cookbook, Woodier uses dozens of herb combinations to make mouthwatering, flavorful dishes that everyone will want to eat.

Peanut-Sesame Pesto is my new favorite, which I first tossed over noodles and fresh vegetables for a salad, and then I used it in Sesame Garlic Fried Rice. Other combinations that are delicious are Poblano and Fresh Oregano Puree, Herb-Scallion Pesto, and Basil-Tarragon Puree. I have a large rosemary bush, so one of the first pesto recipes I made was the Rosemary Pesto; it was delicious. We loved it on grilled pork chops and also spooned into an Italian vegetable soup.

This book contains dozens of great sauce and topping recipes as well as the pesto recipes made from a variety of herbs in uncommon combinations, and makes all the work of growing an herb garden worthwhile. Basil plays an important part in my cooking, so I grow it and other favorite herbs indoors during the winter months in my AeroGarden which makes it possible to enjoy these pesto and sauce recipes year round.

If you are one who loves cooking with herbs, The Pesto Cookbook: 116 Recipes for Creative Herb Combinations and Dishes Bursting with Flavor is one you’ll appreciate having in your personal recipe collection. It’s a great reference for ideas on what to serve with specific herbs, and includes beautiful photographs. You will be amazed at the imaginative and unique recipes in this cookbook, and will have trouble only deciding which to make first. Highly recommended.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Have always like pesto and had an interest in learning to make my own in different flavors. Will enjoy playing with the recipe suggestions and techniques in this book! Thank you!!

A feast for both eyes and stomach. Gorgeous pictures compliment the wide-range of delicious recipes. A must-have addition for pesto lovers.

The Pesto Cookbook from Olwen Woodier and Storey Publishing is due out 17 April, 2018 is a modern look at an ancient and traditional ingredient.

Pesto (or paste, or pureé) is a traditional method of preserving Summer's bounty of herbs with oil, cheese, nuts and other traditional ingredients. It's super versatile in cooking and can function as a flavor enhancer, meat rub, side dish, topping and so much more.

The book begins with an introduction covering the history and traditional uses for pesto along with ingredients to mix and match. It's worth noting that along with the introductory chapters (about 10% of the content) the author includes a lot of useful tips about growing and harvesting the herbs and greens to be used. The rest of the introductory chapters (about 30% of the total content) expand the definition of pesto and introduce an international flair with pastes from Morocco, Asia, France, Argentina and other world cuisines.

Each of the chapters include recipes along with alternative versions and suggestions for experimentation.

The largest portion of the book (about 70%) is given over to specific recipes for main dishes and appetizers including a large and varied selection of vegetarian dishes.

I'm emphatically NOT a talented cook (more of a keen amateur). I can and did follow the recipes in this book and the results were oh, so tasty and impressive. A very enjoyable well made culinary book that is more than 'just' a cookbook. I tested several of the recipes: Focaccia With Spicy Summer Tomato Pesto, Gnocchi, Spaetzle, and Red Pepper and Spinach Risotto With Genovese Pesto. All were well written with no discernible mistakes.

The Pesto Cookbook is gorgeously colorful and well photographed.

Four stars

This is the BEST book of pestos and sauces that I've ever encountered. The recipes are original, flavorful, creative and EXCELLENT! I am an avid cook and I'm always looking for interesting sauces and pesto to compliment my dishes. The pesto recipes in this book will work for ANY type of dish that you have. The recipes very unique, delicious, original, easy to follow, easy to make and will impress your family, friends, and guests when you make these pestos. I highly recommend this book. You won't need any other book on pestos once you have this one! I will post my review on my blog, https://readthisnotthat.blog/, per the publisher guidelines.

I was looking for a good pesto cookbook and found it. If you love pesto as much as I do, you will love this cookbook too. I had no idea all the ways I could incorporate so many different foods and herbs to make such delicious pesto to spice up bland dishes. I hight recommend this cookbook.

I'm excited about this cookbook. I've been trying to improve my sauce game. Pestos are a wonderful way to add flavor and color to a plate. As I'm reading this, we're moving into the cooler months and my basil plants are pretty much done for the year. However, I CAN get other herbs (cilantro, flat leaf parsley, rosemary) readily and in quantity at local shops throughout the winter months. I'm SO looking forward to making some of the twists on the traditional pesto in this book.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that I am a ‘basil addict' and I have no plans to enter any type of recovery program! I grow numerous varieties and make lots and lots of standard pesto. Any book with pesto in the title would immediately catch my eye and pique my interest. If recipes were the only thing covered, I would have been happy, since I have already tried several that are amazing and I am nowhere near close to being done.
However, In addition to all the recipes, this book is also jam-packed with beautiful pictures, food history and numerous helpful tips from the author. So far I have made the Spicy Tomato Summer Pesto, the Eggplant, Bean and Herb Scallion Pesto Spread and the Goat Cheese, Yogurt, and Lemon Pesto. All delicious and as the summer garden season is winding down for me, a great way to utilize fresh homegrown produce in new ways. Recipes are broken down into chapters titled: Salads and Soups, Sides and Snacks, Pasta and Grains, Meat and Poultry, Seafood Dishes, Vegetarian Entrees and even one called Sweet Surprises. This book covers so much more than just basil pesto, which I adore, but there are so many other options and the author certainly opened my eyes to many alternatives.
Thank you, Olwen Woodier, Storey Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC. While I have no qualms with reading it on my tablet, I do keep a shelf of cookbooks in my library and plan to buy a hardcopy to add to my collection. I am the only cook in my household and it is books like this one that reminds me that I never really cook alone when there are authors who provide inspiration, knowledge and share their love of food.

This book was a great source for a bit of the food history and how to make it.
Covered the basic pesto and then hit the ground at a full run with lots of interesting and yummy sounding recipes. Not only did it cover the making and storing of the pesto but included recipes to use the pesto in!
Was a bit surprised at the dessert chapter but all of them sounded pretty tasty with the included recipes.

I liked this book. Thought it could be enhanced by making suggestions using the pesto as a dip. I also thought that where possible cheese substitutes could be given eg nutritional yeast. This doesn’t detract from the fact that the recipes were well researched and interesting