Tomato Pesto

Tomatoes bring summer into a jar and onto your table

Königskind Tomato Pesto with black walnuts is a summery-fruity pesto made from ripe tomatoes, real Parmigiano Reggiano, and the legendary black walnuts from our own manufactory – handmade by Uwe König in his small gourmet manufactory in the Oberbergisches region. A complex accompaniment for pasta, mozzarella, and warm white bread, with the subtle spice of black walnuts.

Königskind's Tomato Pesto with black walnuts is a summery-fruity, subtly spicy pesto from the Oberbergisches Land. With sun-ripened tomatoes, black walnuts from Königskind's own production, sunflower oil, real Parmigiano Reggiano, tomato paste for concentrated depth, a splash of lemon juice, chili, salt, and fine spices, only a few carefully selected ingredients go into the jar – without artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or flavor enhancers. Uwe König processes the tomatoes directly after harvesting and refines the pesto with his own preserved black walnuts, which have matured for months.

Deeply fruity, full-bodied, and with a subtly spicy chili-walnut note

Once opened, the full summer scent of tomatoes rises – warm, juicy, slightly caramel-like, accompanied by the profound and spicy note of black walnuts with their vanilla-cinnamon undertone and a subtle hint of chili heat. The color is a vibrant, deep red with dark walnut specks, visually transforming the pesto into a delicate work of art. The consistency is creamy-velvety with visible fruit pieces and fine walnut bits, giving the pesto a smooth texture.

On the tongue, the pesto begins with the full sweetness and fruitiness of tomatoes, followed by the black walnut with its subtly spicy, almost vanilla-cinnamon depth – characterized by the long preservation with cloves and cinnamon. The Parmigiano Reggiano brings its salty-umami spice, the tomato paste its concentrated depth, a splash of lemon lifts the whole to a harmonious entirety, and the chili adds a subtle, spicy accent to the finish. A full-bodied, balanced pesto that combines summery tomato richness with the characteristic depth of a Königskind signature ingredient.

Our recommendation with pasta, mozzarella, and warm white bread

The Tomato Pesto is a versatile summer companion. Best served classically with pasta: stir 3 tablespoons of pesto into warm linguine or spaghettoni, add some pasta water to make the sauce silky, top with some shaved Parmigiano and a few basil leaves – a summer dish ready in 10 minutes. The pesto also works well with orecchiette with 50g fried bacon or in a cold pasta salad bowl.

We also like it with tender Mozzarella di Bufala: a thick slice of buffalo mozzarella on the plate, a generous spoon of tomato pesto on top, a few basil leaves, a drizzle of good olive oil – a starter that will surprise not only the host. On a warm slice of toasted white bread as bruschetta, on a crostino with goat cream cheese, with warm jacket potatoes or as a dip for raw vegetables on a summer evening – the pesto fits wherever tomatoes are welcome.

We also love to use it with grilled fish and light meat dishes: with a piece of salmon fillet from the oven, with a Mediterranean pan-fried chicken breast or with grilled halloumi and arugula. What makes it special are the black walnuts – they give the pesto a depth you won't find in classic tomato pestos. Other seasonal pestos: the spring-like Wild Garlic Pesto, the autumn-rich Porcini Mushroom Pesto, and the winter-warm Kale Pesto. You can find them all in our Königskind collection.

Königskind Manufactory with its own preserved black walnuts

The Königskind gourmet manufactory is the family-run passion project of Uwe König and his wife Sabine. What began in 2005 as a hobby in their home kitchen, the couple expanded into a full-time business in 2014 due to the growing demand for their pestos, chutneys, and fruit spreads. To this day, all Königskind products are cooked by hand in small batches in their idyllic kitchen under the Ziegenbusch in Wiehl, with the care that only a traditional, small family manufactory can provide.

A special Königskind signature is the black walnuts, which Uwe König prepares himself: Still green, unripe walnuts are harvested in early summer, prepared for several weeks, and then slowly cooked down with sugar, cloves, vanilla pods, cinnamon, and limes. They then mature for at least 6 months in screw-top jars until they have developed their deep, spicy aroma. With a proud 21% black walnuts in the jar, the Tomato Pesto gives this Königskind signature the space it deserves – an ingredient that no other manufacturer uses in this form and quantity.

The Tomato Pesto is part of the Königskind seasonal line: alongside the spring-like wild garlic pesto, the autumn-rich porcini mushroom pesto, and the winter-warm kale pesto, it completes the pesto range throughout the year.