Aldi Priano Pesto Rosso (Sun Dried Tomato) Review
Author’s Note: I have no affiliation with Aldi, and I bought this pesto with my own grubby money.
It belongs in your shopping cart. I have decreed it.
Deep in the most bargain-y depths of my local Aldi, I spied this petite jar of Pesto Rosso. It was only $2.19, so I bought it. Of course I did.
For the price, this is a rich and flavorful pesto. It’s made with sun dried tomatoes, cashew nuts, and sunflower oil. I read the ingredients carefully, because most sun dried tomatoes are preserved with sulfites, to which I have a mild allergy. I was pleased to see none listed on the label. More about the ingredients later.
The pesto is thick enough that it has chunks of texture, but blended enough to coat the pasta, once stirred in. I found a few lovely jumbo pieces of chewy-soft sun dried tomato, which I relished. Here’s a shamefully blurry photo of one. Sorry.
I loved the intense sun dried tomato flavor, which is concentrated enough to stretch a looong way. There’s a deep saltiness that makes all the other flavors pop. The vibrant red color made my whole meal feel cheerful.
Although there are extra flavors here, such as basil and garlic, the strongest flavor is (by far) tomato. I was, however, delighted to see the many delicate fragments of green basil in my pesto. For a jarred product, the herbs have been preserved nicely.
This pesto features two kinds of cheese: Grana Padano Cheese and Pecorino Romano (from sheep milk). While not immediately “cheesy” tasting, there’s a savory creaminess that mellows the tangy tomato brightness.
It’s oily. Because it’s pesto. Pesto is oily. Fortunately, there’s not an egregious quantity of oil — and it’s mostly bound to the other ingredients. Not just running amok in the jar, like an unaccompanied minor in an airport. When mixed into the pasta, the oil provides enough smoothness to coat the noodles and contributes a lush mouthfeel.
I was impressed by the thickness of this pesto. It’s heckin’ thick. It doesn’t “pour,” as much as “scoop.” Or plop. It doesn’t taste like a cheap or diluted product. In fact, it’s thicker than Costco’s famous Kirkland Basil Pesto.
Pesto Rosso is also called “red pesto,” (or even pesto alla trapanese) and is a Sicilian version originally made with tomatoes and almonds. I served mine over Aldi’s Priano Ricotta Spinach Ravioli. Stay tuned for a review of that.
Ingredients in Aldi Priano Pesto Rosso
Here is my best attempt at typing out the ingredients, from the label:
- Sunflower Oil
- Tomato Puree
- Rehydrated Sundried Tomato
- Basil
- Grana Padano Cheese (Milk, Salt, Rennet, Lysozyme from Egg [preservative])
- Cashew Nuts
- Pecorino Romano Cheese (Sheep’s Milk, Salt, Lamb Rennet)
- Garlic
- Citric Acid
- Salt
Look at those sheepish ingredients in that Pecorino Romano — classy!
This pesto is made in Italy. The label says “Inspired by Italy” on the front, which made me think it was made somewhere else. But the back definitely says “Product of Italy.” So there. Hmph!
Nutrition Facts
A serving is 1/4 cup and contains 190 calories. You get 17 grams of fat (only 2 grams saturated fat) and 3 grams of protein. There’s a friendly 2 grams of fiber, and a demure 3 grams of sugar (0 grams “added sugar”). Unsurprisingly, there’s 25% of your daily value of sodium per serving (this stuff is salty!).
Price and Servings
There are only 3 servings per 6.7 ounce jar. However, since the whole jar cost $2.19, that’s only 73 cents per serving. This is the perfect size for a single person, such as myself.
I personally got two large meals from my jar. If you served this more as a condiment than an entire entree, it would stretch further. I’d like to try it on vegetables next!
Other Aldi Pesto Varieties
Aldi sells another flavor of this same pesto brand: Alla Genovese, which is essentially a green basil pesto. Both varieties are the same price and located in the same dry pasta/rice/beans aisle in the store.
Shelf Life
This is an unrefrigerated, shelf-stable product. Mine had a “best by” which allowed approximately 18 months to consume. The label says to refrigerate after opening, and to eat within 3-4 days of opening.
Dramatic Conclusion
If you love sun dried tomato flavor, you probably can’t go wrong with this pesto. It’s flavorful and concentrated, with a fresh texture. For the price, it belongs in your shopping cart. I have decreed it.
The End.
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