Whether you are looking for a fresh basil ingredient to develop your own recipes and formulations or a ready-to-use pesto solution, L’AQUILA offers versatile products designed to support a wide range of food applications.
Discover our two main products from our Sorriso® basil range.
Sorriso® Concentrated Crushed Fresh Ligurian Sweet Basil
Imagine being surrounded by an endless green landscape in the heart of Liguria, north-western Italy, where the fresh sea breeze meets the mountain air, creating the perfect environment for one of Italy’s most treasured herbs.
This is where our story begins. Carefully selected and harvested at peak freshness, our basil captures the essence of Liguria, bringing vibrant flavour and aroma to a wide range of culinary applications.
Prepared in our Ligurian factory, fresh basil leaves are gently crushed and marinated in oil and rock salt to naturally preserve freshness, without undergoing heat treatment, helping to preserve its original characteristics all year round.
This chilled semi-finished ingredient is ready to use, preserving the delicate characteristics and distinctive aromatic profile of Ligurian basil — vibrant in colour, intense in fragrance, and naturally fresh with delicate peppery notes.
Available in both sunflower oil and extra virgin olive oil.
What makes this key product stand out?
- Genovese Basil D.O.P. – authentic Ligurian sweet basil with provenance
- No heat treatment – vibrant green
- Fresh basil available all year around
- Intense flavour and fragrance
- Ideal for vegan and vegetarian pesto
- 24 months shelf life from packing
- Consistent quality and performance
Perfect for:
- Pesto and basil-based recipes
- Pasta sauces and fillings
- Pizza and focaccia toppings
- Dressings and marinades
- Sandwich fillings and wraps
- Savoury bakery applications
- Mediterranean vegetable preparations
- Spreadable dips and creams
- Salad dressings
- Basil-based cheeses
And much more!
Application Inspiration
Cretan Spread Appetizer
Experience a rich Mediterranean flavour fusion by combining the intense aroma of crushed fresh Ligurian sweet basil in sunflower oil with the traditional Cretan appetizer known as “Girit Ezme” — a creamy and vibrant spread typically made with Greek feta cheese, strained yogurt, garlic, olive oil, and pistachios.
Caprese Snack
Snacking continues to be a major trend, so why not transform the classic Caprese salad into a bite-sized, portable, and visually appealing finger food? Combining fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and our ready-to-use crushed fresh Ligurian sweet basil pesto in extra virgin olive oil for a refreshing, low-carb Mediterranean bite, perfect for summer gatherings, lunchboxes, aperitivo moments, and more.
Sorriso® Pesto alla Genovese
Inspired by basil and the desire to meet customer demand for a classic Italian pesto, L’AQUILA offers one of the world’s most popular basil-based sauces: "Pesto alla Genovese".
Sorriso® Pesto alla Genovese brings the well-loved taste of pesto to a convenient ready-to-use format, delivering Italian-inspired character with consistency and ease.
Made with basil, Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese, Pecorino Romano PDO cheese, pine nuts, garlic, sunflower oil, and extra virgin olive oil, it delivers a rich and balanced flavour profile with freshness, creaminess, and depth.
What makes this key product stand out?
- 'Pesto alla Genovese' recipe
- Made with Parmigiano Reggiano PDO and Pecorino Romano PDO cheeses
- Ready-to-use and convenient format – 500g pouch
- Ambient Storage
- 3 years shelf life from production
- Consistent quality and performance
Perfect for:
- Sandwiches, panini, and focaccia fillings
- Pasta dishes and sauces
- Premium pizzas and flatbreads
- Chilled deli products
- Ready meals
- Meat, fish, and vegetable applications
And much more!
Application Inspiration
Summer Pizza with Ham, Peach and Pesto
Swap traditional tomato sauce for "Pesto alla Genovese" to bring a rich, nutty and savoury layer of flavour that beautifully contrasts with juicy roasted peaches and the honeyed sweetness of ham.
'Trenette al Pesto' with Green Beans and Potatoes
A staple Ligurian dish from Genoa, Italy, 'trenette al pesto' combines long, flat spaghetti with tender potatoes and crisp seasonal green beans, all cooked together in a single pot. The dish is finished with "Pesto alla Genovese" loosened with a little pasta water, creating a comforting recipe that celebrates the simplicity and freshness of Ligurian cuisine.