Basil-based sauce crossword clue
9 Down · WSJ Crossword, May 20, 2026 · 5 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Basil-based sauce” is PESTO. It appears as 9 Down in the Wall Street Journal crossword of May 20, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle titled “Look Both Ways” by Gary Larson, and it fills 5 squares running top to bottom from row 1, column 12 of the 15×15 grid.
The clue is a straightforward definition, so the answer is a direct synonym or a factual match for the words as written. The entry begins with P and ends with O, and contains 2 vowels and 3 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Across entries should be enough to lock it in. Wednesday puzzles sit mid-week on the difficulty curve, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
Clues in other WSJ puzzles with the answer PESTO:
- Basil-based sauceJul 21, 2026
This exact clue has also run on:
- WSJ Crossword July 21, 2026answer was PESTO