Is pesto gluten-free? Yes, it’s usually the pasta that isn’t

Yes. Pesto is naturally gluten-free. Classic pesto is basil, pine nuts, hard cheese, garlic, olive oil and salt, as our Genoa guide explains.

What to check

• The pasta: pesto is usually served with wheat pasta. Ask for gluten-free pasta, cooked in fresh water rather than the shared pasta pot.
• Jars and fresh tubs: most are gluten-free, but read the label; some add thickeners or other ingredients.
• Pesto on bread, bruschetta and focaccia: the bread is wheat.

Pesto with gluten-free pasta, potatoes or green beans is one of the easiest gluten-free meals in Liguria and at home.

Keep reading

• The Hidden-Gluten Watchlist: the 15 forbidden names and the ones to check
• Gluten-free Genoa
• Is cheese gluten-free?
• Is gnocchi gluten-free?

Sources: Coeliac UK, EU Regulation 1169/2011 and 828/2014, Codex Alimentarius (gluten-free = 20 mg/kg or less). We inform, we don’t diagnose: for medical questions, your doctor or dietitian has the last word.