pesto,
n. [It.
pesto, pounded, from
pestare to pound, crush, fr. LL.
pistare, fr.
pinsere. See also
pestle.].
A sauce used in Italian cuisine, typically made by blending olive oil, basil, garlic, pine nuts, and grated parmesan cheese; it is served hot or cold over pasta, meat, or fish. Where pine nuts are expensive, sunflower seeds are sometimes substituted. [PJC]