EVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY
THEME: PERFECT PESTO RECIPES
RECIPE: AVOCADO PESTO SANDWICH
Avocado Pesto Sandwich is a more tasty and creamy version of the classic grilled cheese sandwiches. Adding mashed avocado with pesto and our favourite cheese, this sandwich is comfort food for hubby and me. Served either with a salad or some soup, it makes a some what healthy and filling meal.
SUNDAY FUNDAY
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THEME: PERFECT PESTO RECIPES
When Sue who blogs at Palatable Pastimes, suggested this theme months ago I was excited as I wanted to make a different kind of pesto to the normal basil one. However, planning and putting a plan into action are two different things. I took the second option of using pesto as a recipe ingredient.
You may wonder what is so difficult about making a pesto….well have you tried making it without a food processor or a pestle and mortar? Yes, at the moment I’m a food blogger without the modern gadgets! So shelved the idea of making a pesto and instead bought store made one to make my all time comfort food, Avocado Pesto Sandwich, grilled.
It is the first time I bought ready made pesto and it was okay. I had to add a bit more garlic. Thankfully, I could mince it using smashing it a big knife.
What Is A Pesto?
Pesto is a sauce that originates from Genoa, Italy. Pesto alla genovese is made from garlic, pine nuts, fresh basil, olive oil, salt and a hard cheese like parmesan. Originally, the sauce was made by pounding the ingredients with a pestle and mortar. Mostly used with pasta back then, nowadays it is common to find pesto being used with so many other ingredients.
Varieties Of Pesto I’ve Made At Home:
These days there are so many varieties of pesto that are prepared, depending on ingredients available and taste too.
When I don’t get basil in Mombasa, I like to make Coriander, Mint and Cashew Nut Pesto. These three ingredients are found in abundance in Mombasa. The pesto goes so well with pasta and also as a dressing for Roasted Potato Salad.
Parsley Walnut Pesto is another condiment that I like to prepare. Love using it with roasted potatoes and as a salad dressing.
As for the traditional Basil Pesto, I love using it when I bake breads like Braided Pesto Bread or as a topping for my Pesto Mushroom Pies.
Check Out How Members of Sunday Funday Have Used Pesto
- Avocado Pesto Sandwich by Mayuri’s Jikoni
- Baked Cod with Asparagus Pesto by Food Lust People Love
- Basil Pesto With Almonds & Walnuts by Sneha’s Recipe
- Carrot Greens Pesto-Topped Roasted Salmon by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Pesto Cavatappi with Meatballs by Amy’s Cooking Adventures
- Spinach Pesto Pasta by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Swiss Chard and White Bean Soup with Basil Pesto by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Vegan Mint Pesto by Sizzling Tastebuds
Avocado Pesto Sandwich
Coming to the tweaked traditional grilled cheese sandwich, this recipe first came about when I had about a tbsp of homemade pesto leftover. Not enough for pasta or salad, I decided to mix it with mashed avocado. It was an instant hit. Subsequently, whenever I would mention Grilled Sandwiches to hubby, he would ask ” with avocado and pesto?” Please make that. So now that has become a norm.
As I couldn’t make a new pesto recipe, the next best was to redo an old post. I had first posted the recipe for Avocado Pesto Sandwich on 04/09/2013 with awful photos. In a way am glad I don’t have a food processor at the moment. This old post has finally got a new life.
Ingredients Required For Avocado Pesto Sandwich
- Bread – sliced. Any of your choice.
- Avocado – one small one.
- Pesto – any type you prefer. I used basil pesto.
- Tomato – one large or medium one.
- Cheese – any cheese of your choice. I used a mixture of cheddar and mozzarella.
- Salt – for the avocado mixture and to sprinkle a bit on the tomato slices.
- Pepper – to sprinkle on the tomato slices
- Butter – plain or flavoured. This time I used garlic butter.
Check Out The Step By Step Video To Prepare Avocado Pesto Sandwich
Avocado Pesto Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 slices bread any of your choice
- 1 small avocado
- 2 tbsp pesto sauce
- salt to taste
- ¼ tsp pepper powder
- 2 tbsp butter
- ½ cup cheese, grated of your choice
Instructions
- First, let us get the avocado ready. Cut the avocado into half.
- Remove the stone and scoop out the flesh into a mixing bowl.
- Mash it with a fork. Leave a few chunks of avocado.
- Add salt according to your taste.
- Add pesto. Mix well.
- Slice the tomato. I prefer slightly thick slices.
- Grate the cheese.
GRILL THE SANDWICHES
- Heat the pan or skillet over medium heat.
- Butter the bread slices lightly on one side.
- Lightly grill the slices.
- Turn them over.
- Apply remaining butter on the slices and turn them over immediately.
- The lightly grilled side will be up. Apply the avocado pesto mixture over the slices.
- Layer the tomato slices over 2 of the slices.
- Sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper over the tomato slices.
- Add grated cheese.
- Cover with the other slices that are smeared with the avocado pesto mixture. The avocado side goes down onto the cheese.
- Lower the heat, and grill the sandwich on one side till golden brown.
- Using a spatula or two spatulas turn the sandwiches over to grill the other side.
- Grill till golden brown.
- Serve hot sandwich with your favourite salad or soup.
Notes
- Use any pesto of your choice. It tastes really good with a spinach pesto also.
- Use bread of your choice. I prefer thick sliced bread for this. Choose a bread that is sturdier and not with many large holes. White bread does give that delightful crunch.
- Use any cheese of your choice, cheddar, mozzarella or Monterey Jack.
- Don't grill the bread over high heat. It will burn without giving you that delicious crunch.
- Using a generous amount of butter, grills the bread perfectly.
Pin For Later:
A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962