Summary
Pesto: A Genoese Tradition
Pesto is a popular sauce originating from Genoa, Italy, made with seven essential ingredients: basil, extra-virgin olive oil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, pecorino cheese, salt, and garlic. The city’s unique climate and soil produce the finest basil, which is a key component of the sauce.
Traditional vs. Modern Methods
There are two ways to make pesto: the traditional method using a pestle and mortar, and the modern method using a mixer. Both methods produce different-tasting pesto sauces.
Ingredients
- Basil: A third of the total amount, washed and dried
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Parmesan and pecorino cheese (not local ingredients, but part of the region’s history)
- Pine nuts
- Garlic (local variety, Vessalico)
- Coarse sea salt
History and Tradition
Pesto’s history dates back to the Middle Ages, when Genoa was a powerful trading city. The city’s maritime republic traded with Sardinia, bringing back pecorino cheese, which became an essential ingredient in pesto.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | A key ingredient in pesto, a type of herb. | “A third of the total amount of pesto is basil.” |
| Extra-virgin olive oil | A high-quality oil used in pesto production. | “The pesto recipe calls for extra-virgin olive oil.” |
| Pesto | A popular sauce originating from Genoa, Italy, made with seven essential ingredients. | “Pesto is a staple in Italian cuisine.” |
| Parmesan cheese | A type of cheese used in pesto production. | “Parmesan cheese is an essential ingredient in pesto.” |
| Pecorino cheese | A type of cheese originating from Sardinia, used in pesto production. | “Pecorino cheese was brought back to Genoa by traders from Sardinia.” |
| Pine nuts | A type of nut used in pesto production. | “Pine nuts add a rich flavor to pesto.” |
| Garlic | A type of vegetable used in pesto production, specifically the Vessalico variety. | “The Vessalico garlic is a local variety used in pesto production.” |
| Coarse sea salt | A type of salt used in pesto production. | “Coarse sea salt enhances the flavor of pesto.” |
| Genoa | A city in Italy where pesto originated. | “Pesto originated in Genoa, Italy.” |
| Middle Ages | A time period when pesto’s history dates back to. | “Pesto’s history dates back to the Middle Ages.” |
Watch The Video
Vocabulary Quiz
Vocabulary Quiz
1. Which word means ‘a type of cheese’?
A) Sauce
B) Cheese
C) Pecorino
D) Basil
2. Which word means ‘to make something by crushing or grinding’?
A) Mix
B) Blend
C) Pestle
D) Grind
3. Which word means ‘a type of tree nut’?
A) Garlic
B) Pine
C) Pecorino
D) Basil
4. Which word means ‘a type of soil’?
A) Climate
B) Soil
C) Olive
D) Garlic
5. Which word means ‘a type of trading city’?
A) Republic
B) City
C) Maritime
D) Trading
Answer Key:
1. C
2. C
3. B
4. None of the above
5. C
Grammar Focus
Grammar Focus: Subordinate Clauses with Relative Pronouns
Grammar Quiz:
- Which of the following sentences uses a subordinate clause with a relative pronoun?
- The city’s unique climate and soil produce the finest basil.
- The city, which is a powerful trading city, traded with Sardinia.
- Pesto is a popular sauce originating from Genoa, Italy.
- The traditional method using a pestle and mortar produces different-tasting pesto sauces.
- What is the function of the relative pronoun “which” in the sentence “The city’s unique climate and soil produce the finest basil, which is a key component of the sauce”?
- To introduce a contrasting idea
- To provide additional information about the city
- To introduce a subordinate clause
- To show the relationship between the city and the sauce
- Which of the following sentences uses a subordinate clause with the relative pronoun “that”?
- The city’s unique climate and soil produce the finest basil.
- The city, that is a powerful trading city, traded with Sardinia.
- Pesto is a popular sauce originating from Genoa, Italy.
- The traditional method using a pestle and mortar produces different-tasting pesto sauces.
- What is the purpose of using subordinate clauses with relative pronouns in formal and academic writing?
- To add variety to sentence structure
- To provide additional information about a topic
- To show the relationship between ideas
- To make writing more concise
- Which of the following sentences is an example of a subordinate clause with a relative pronoun?
- The city’s unique climate and soil produce the finest basil.
- The city, which is a powerful trading city, traded with Sardinia.
- Pesto is a popular sauce originating from Genoa, Italy.
- The traditional method using a pestle and mortar produces different-tasting pesto sauces.
Answer Key:
- 2. The city, which is a powerful trading city, traded with Sardinia.
- 3. To introduce a subordinate clause
- 2. The city, that is a powerful trading city, traded with Sardinia.
- 3. To show the relationship between ideas
- 2. The city, which is a powerful trading city, traded with Sardinia.