These delicious Basil Pesto Rolls are ready in 45 minutes, bursting with basil pesto flavor, and are great with soups, salads or as a snack. That makes these an awesome addition to any meal!
Are you a basil pesto fan? If you come around often, you may already know, basil pesto is a favorite around here. When I moved into my current home in 2014 I built a couple inexpensive garden boxes in a shady area of my property. There we grow a bunch of herbs… basil being our favorite and most used.
Every year I make and freeze this super easy, inexpensive, DELICIOUS basil pesto. I like to use cashew nuts to make it instead of pine nuts because they are SOOOO much cheaper, like $12 a pound cheaper.
I came up with the idea for these pretty basil pesto rolls a week or so ago. I have a favorite fast dinner rolls recipe I use at least once a week. I was getting ready to make some Spicy Tomato Soup. As I was adding the pesto to the soup I thought, why not add pesto to my rolls???
With a modification or two, I added the basil pesto to the dough and on top after cooking. They were awesome, especially as a side dish to the tomato-based soup.
These basil pesto rolls were so fast to make… only 45 minutes. It’s a roll recipe you can have ready for dinner with little time or effort.
As you can see, when the rolls came out of the oven, they looked beautiful with a hint of green.
I had already added basil pesto to the roll dough but figured they would taste and look even better with that vibrant green, super flavorful herb mixture coating the tops.
They taste amazing! You can make yours in the traditional dinner roll shape or like these in a shamrock-inspired shape. To make the clover shape I rolled each dough ball into a snake. I looped the ends as if I were tying a knot. Instead of tying a knot, I looped the ends through the center a couple times. That’s it. I figured these would be super fun and festive as St. Patrick’s Day roll. After all, they are green and shaped like a shamrock.
What’s your favorite basil pesto inspired recipe?
Basil Pesto Rolls Recipe Card:
45-Minute Basil Pesto Rolls
These delicious Basil Pesto Rolls can be ready in under 45 minutes. With basil pesto in the dough and on top, these rolls are fabulous with soups, salads or as a snack.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups warm water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp dry yeast
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup basil pesto, 1/2 cup for roll dough, 1/4 cup for top of rolls
- 3 cups flour, plus extra for dusting
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl or stand mixer with hook attachment, mix warm water, sugar and yeast together.
- Add salt and basil pesto. Mix until incorporated.
- Add flour. If dough is very stick, add up to 1/2 cup more flour. The dough should stick to the bottom but not high on the sides of the bowl.
- Knead by hand or in mixer for 2-4 minutes.
- Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Pour out onto floured surface. Cut into 15 equal pieces. Shape into rolls or roll into long stripes (like a snake). Make a circle like you are tying a knott. Loop the tails around the circle to make a shamrock or "flower" shape.
- Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Bake at 350 degrees F. for 18-20 minutes or until rolls begin to brown.
- When done baking, using a basting brush, cover with remaining basil pesto. ENJOY!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 241Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 394mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 5g
Originally Published: 02.28.2018 Updated: 03.05.2024