Costco Basil Pesto Review
Author’s note: This blog is officially 2 years old, and this is my 204th review! Whoop! Thanks to everyone who munched along with me on this silly, calorie-filled journey. As always, I wasn’t paid or compensated in any way for this review and I have noooo affiliation with Costco.
Heaven smells better than pesto, I think?
Pretty sure everyone in the world already knows how good this pesto is. This is my third (or fourth?) time buying it, so I already know, too. Here’s why I keep buying it:
For a jarred product, Costco’s Basil Pesto tastes surprisingly fresh. It’s made with a special Genovese basil imported from Italy. In fact, the herb is designated “D.O.P” — which translates to “Protected Denomination of Origin” and is meant to guarantee the authenticity of the basil.
Unlike Aldi’s imported Italian pesto, Costco’s version is refrigerated (and therefore, not shelf-stable). I love how brightly colored it is. It looks like it just came out of a blender. Maybe it IS easy being green:
Who is the cheesiest one of all?
There’s a generous amount of cheese bits, including Pecorino Romano (from sheep’s milk) and Parmesan Cheese. This is honestly thee cheesiest store-bought pesto I’ve ever had. It’s also made with real pine nuts, instead of cheaper nuts like cashews or almonds. It’s full of rich salty taste; I found I did not need to add extra salt to my dishes when eating this.
Costco’s pesto has a heavenly aroma. I mean, probably Heaven smells better than pesto. But, you know. Although the garlic is discernable, it’s mild and flavorful without being hot. The sauce is brimming with basil, but the flavors are married so thoroughly that no one ingredient dominates the others. There’s just a touch of black pepper for flavor, without any spiciness.
I like how thick this pesto is. It’s thin enough to pour, but has a pleasant chunky, natural quality. The garlic and pine nuts are in distinct, perky bits that provides a subtle texture.
There’s a tad more oil than I would prefer. But apparently not so oily that I won’t keep buying it! It’s a combination of sunflower oil and olive oil. It helps to shake up the jar thoroughly before opening.
What did I do with my pesto?
I served it on this Scoiattolo Truffle Ravioli, which was “fine,” but the basil-garlic flavor drowned out the delicate truffle aroma too much. Truffle is too precious to waste this way!
I liked it better on Costco’s Five Cheese Tortelloni, which has an assertive cheesiness that stands up to the bossy flavors of the pesto. I paired mine with sliced Jones Organic Chicken Sausage.
I also spread my pesto on fried-egg-and-croissant breakfast sandwiches. Delicious! The oil soaks into the croissant, like melted butter, and the cheesy-basil flavors taste stoo-pendous with the egg. Yes, that’s a Costco Bakery croissant. No, I don’t work for Costco!
I also enjoyed this pesto over vegetables, like these carrots. And as a salad dressing. Seriously, what wouldn’t you eat this on? Maybe chocolate cake. I wouldn’t eat it on chocolate cake.
Ingredients in Kirkland Basil Pesto from Costco
I’m not mad about these ingredients:
- Basil Blend (Genovese Basil D.O.P, Sunflower Oil, Salt)
- Sunflower Oil
- Parmesan Cheese (Pasteurized Cultured Part-Skim Milk, Salt, Enzymes)
- Pine Nuts
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Pecorino Romano D.O.P Cheese (Cultured Sheep’s Milk, Salt, Rennet)
- Fresh Garlic
- Ascorbic Acid
- Citric Acid
- Black Pepper
While the basil is imported, the pesto is made in the USA.
Nutrition Facts
Are you annoyed when trying to read labels that wrap around a jar? So am I. Have fun trying to read this. Here’s the gist of what it says:
A serving is 1/4 a cup (60 grams) and contains a whopping 330 calories. Yikes. There are 30 grams of fat (5 grams saturated fat) and 6 grams of protein. There’s 9 grams total carbohydrates, including 1 gram fiber. Zero grams sugars. You also get 630 mg sodium, which is 27% your daily value. There’s a friendly sliver of calcium, at 15% your daily value.
Serving Instructions
Essentially, the label says not to heat this pesto. Instead, it should be slowly brought to room temperature before serving. I spread mine on a plate while I’m waiting for the pasta to cook, and then put the hot pasta on top and toss it together.
Shelf-life
Without opening the jar, this expired approximately 1.5 months after purchasing. Check your labels, though, because my last jar expired in just 2 weeks! The label says to keep refrigerated.
Because I couldn’t eat it quickly enough, I froze the leftover pesto in individual ziplock snack bags.
Price and Servings
The 22 ounce jar cost $10.49. There are 10 servings per jar, which means each serving costs $1.05.
Honestly? I got more than 10 servings from the jar. Probably closer to 15. The recommended serving size of 1/4 cup of pesto is more generous than I need for most meals. But that’s probably because I used it as a condiment for some meals, like my sandwiches.
This is a “Kirkland Signature” (Costco store-brand) product, and the item # is: 990551.
Dramatic Conclusion
I keep buying this pesto, and so does everyone else. Because it’s good. The flavors and textures are excellent. But it IS calorie dense. And you do have to buy a bunch at once. That’s my only hesitation.
The End.
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