Pistou

Soup au Pistou

Pistou is a traditional Provençal cold sauce made from basil, garlic, and olive oil. It is similar to the Italian pesto, though it lacks pine nuts and sometimes cheese. Pistou is a key ingredient in the Provençal dish soupe au pistou, a vegetable soup that incorporates the sauce.

Ingredients

The primary ingredients of pistou are:

• Basil
• Garlic
• Olive oil

Optional ingredients that can be added include:

• Tomato
• Cheese (such as Parmesan or Pecorino)

Preparation

Pistou is traditionally prepared by crushing the basil and garlic together in a mortar and pestle and then slowly adding olive oil to create a smooth paste. Some modern recipes may use a food processor for convenience.

Uses

Pistou is most famously used in soupe au pistou, a hearty vegetable soup from the Provence region of France. It can also be used as a condiment for various dishes, including:

• Pasta
• Grilled vegetables
• Bread or toast

Comparison with Pesto

While pistou and pesto share similar ingredients and preparation methods, there are key differences:

• Pistou does not traditionally include pine nuts.
• Cheese is optional in pistou, whereas it is a standard ingredient in pesto.

Related Pages

• Provençal cuisine
• Pesto
• Basil
• Garlic
• Olive oil
• Soupe au pistou

See Also

• List of sauces
• French cuisine
• Mediterranean cuisine

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