Tesco Italiano Green Pesto
€2.79 for 150 grams (€18.60 a kilo)
Highs: With its lush green colour and sizeable chunks of readily identifiable Italian cheese, this looks and smells much fresher and authentic than the competition. When it comes to the taste it gets better still. It has a wonderfully rich flavour, and a quick glance at the ingredients reveals nothing but natural products, including a healthy dollop of extra virgin olive oil.
Lows: Although it is just 10c a kilo dearer than Dunnes' version, this is still the most expensive of the sauces tried. And the use of sunflower oil will come as a bit of a let-down to pesto purists.
Verdict: As good as shop pesto gets.
Star rating: ****
Dunnes Stores Pesto Sauce
€2.59 for 140 grams (€18.50 a kilo)
Highs: This looks as if it has been puréed rather than finely chopped, and although the smooth consistency may be to some people's taste, others may find it a little off-putting. Its lurid green colour is a little worrying, but it does attach itself to pasta with enthusiasm.
Lows: Although it is in the same price bracket as Tesco's sauce, it is a world apart in terms of quality and taste. It is enormously salty and filled with more E numbers than you could shake a basil leaf at. Oh, and it's the only sauce tested that can't be resealed, almost forcing you to eat the whole tub at one sitting.
Verdict: Most disappointing.
Star rating: **
Marks & Spencer Classic Pesto
€2.49 for 190 grams (€13.11 a kilo)
Highs: This is good value. Although it has a slightly bitter aftertaste, its basil and cheese flavours come through quite strongly. It tastes surprisingly fresh for something that has spent quite some time in a jar, and it is the only sauce made exclusively with olive oil, making it a lot less greasy than some of the others, which seem to have suffered death by sunflower oil.
Lows: There's 2.2 grams of salt in this, which seems excessive, particularly when compared with the Tesco version, which has just 0.7 grams.
Verdict: Good value, good taste.
Star rating: ***
Roma Green Pesto
€2.49 for 190 grams (€13.11 a kilo)
Highs: Pesto was a rarity in Ireland just 10 years ago, when skint students were forced to live on relatively expensive and hassle-filled staples such as spaghetti carbonara and Bolognese. Not any more.This widely available brand must top their shopping lists everywhere. It tastes all right, if a little uninspired.
Lows: The basil is almost indiscernible, and the sauce doesn't look hugely appealing. It is also the greasiest of the sauces, with a synthetic taste. Roma suggests adding a drop of olive oil to the jar, to "retain freshness"; it's a pity it doesn't add more of it itself.
Verdict: Cheap but dull.
Star rating: **
Excellent *****
Great ****
Fine ***
Below par **
Awful *
