Presto! It's Pesto! Trivia Quiz

You come to my house and I announce I've made something wonderful as part of our dinner. As I unveil the dish I announce 'Presto! It's Pesto'. But what do you know about what I just served?

A multiple-choice quiz by stephgm67. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
stephgm67

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
382,286

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Easy

Avg Score
9 / 10

Plays
665

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 86 (5/10), Guest 172 (9/10), Guest 1 (10/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. What is the main herb found in pesto? Hint

Oregano

Thyme

Parsley

Basil

NEXT>

2. From what country did pesto originate? Hint

Spain

Italy

France

NEXT>

3. To make a good pesto, garlic is ground up with this crunchy ingredient before the basil is added. What heart healthy nut is utilized? Hint

Peanut

Pine nut

Almond

Walnut

NEXT>

4. One of my favorite foods is cheese so I was delighted to learn that pesto also calls for it as an ingredient. Which cheese is added to pesto? Hint

Pepper jack

Mozzarella

Parmesan

Cheddar

NEXT>

5. The bond that holds all of these ingredients together and helps give it a nice saucy texture is oil. What kind of oil does the traditional recipe call for? Hint

Vegetable

Sunflower

Canola

Olive

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6. Pesto can still be ground up and made the old fashioned way (think of a pharmacist). Many traditionalists believe this way makes it taste better. What method? Hint

Mixing it in food processor

Mortar and pestle

Kneading it with your hands

Stomping it with your feet

NEXT>

7. What can pesto be served with? Hint

Salad

Pasta

Almost anything

Pizza

8. The traditional central vegetable can be substituted for a variety of different ingredients. Recently, this very popular green leaf cabbage has been introduced to the recipe. What is this healthy alternative? Hint

Corn

Beet

Carrot

Kale

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9. This famous chef, who spent time on Iron Chef America, often focuses on Italian cuisine. Who is this cookbook author and restaurant owner who was even quoted on the making of pesto? Hint

Cat Cora

Mario Batali

Masaharu Morimoto

Bobby Flay

NEXT>

10. Leftover pesto, due to its fresh ingredients, cannot be frozen.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the main herb found in pesto?

Answer: Basil

Basil is a plant with highly fragrant leaves. There are more than 60 varieties of this plant with sweet basil being the most common. It is also known for aiding in cardiovascular health and is full of Vitamin K.

2. From what country did pesto originate?

Answer: Italy

Pesto goes as far back as the ancient Romans. They used to crush garlic, cheese, and various oils together. Basil was added in the 1800s to give us the recipe most of us are familiar with today.

3. To make a good pesto, garlic is ground up with this crunchy ingredient before the basil is added. What heart healthy nut is utilized?

Answer: Pine nut

Pine nuts are the small edible seeds of a female cone in a pine tree. The pine trees grow in the Northern Hemisphere and produce a nut with a tough, brown outer covering but a delicious creamy white interior. Although high in calories, they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants.

4. One of my favorite foods is cheese so I was delighted to learn that pesto also calls for it as an ingredient. Which cheese is added to pesto?

Answer: Parmesan

Parmesan is also known as Parmigiano Reggiano. For it to be considered parmesan, it must be made from the milk of cows grazing on fresh grass and hay. This cheese, originating in Italy, has a hard and dense texture with a fruity or nutty taste.

5. The bond that holds all of these ingredients together and helps give it a nice saucy texture is oil. What kind of oil does the traditional recipe call for?

Answer: Olive

Olive oil is oil obtained from the fruit of olive trees. It has been around for thousands of years and its popularity has grown recently as more and more health benefits are discovered through its use. One of the more favored olive oils for pesto is that made from Ligurian taggiasca olives. This gives it a mild yet buttery taste.

6. Pesto can still be ground up and made the old fashioned way (think of a pharmacist). Many traditionalists believe this way makes it taste better. What method?

Answer: Mortar and pestle

The method of grinding with a mortar and pestle is not only for the preparation of pesto. Spices, garlic, nuts, and seeds can all be placed in the mortar and then crushed by hand with the pestle. They are usually found in a set and can be wood, ceramic, or stone.

7. What can pesto be served with?

Answer: Almost anything

One of the great traits of pesto is that there are almost endless opportunities to serve it. It is traditionally known to be served with pasta, but it can be used over vegetables, in soups, on chicken wings, as a stand alone dip, and so much more.

Answer: Kale

Kale has been around for centuries and comes from the cabbage family. Its popularity has increased recently due to its many benefits. These include protein, fiber, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and only 33 calories in a cup!

9. This famous chef, who spent time on Iron Chef America, often focuses on Italian cuisine. Who is this cookbook author and restaurant owner who was even quoted on the making of pesto?

Answer: Mario Batali

Mario Batali was raised in Seattle but learned his culinary skills around the world. He specializes in Italian cuisine from Tuscan to Sicilian. He has written ten cookbooks and received numerous James Beard awards. He is a big advocate of using mortar and pestle for pesto!

10. Leftover pesto, due to its fresh ingredients, cannot be frozen.

Answer: False

Pesto actually freezes quite nicely. Simply use an old-fashioned ice cube tray and dollop pesto in each cube. Drip a small amount of olive oil on top so it doesn't dry out and wrap the tray in plastic wrap. Now any time you need some pesto for a recipe, just pop a cube out...and PRESTO PESTO!

Source: Author stephgm67

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor WesleyCrusher before going online.
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