Cilantro Pesto
Cilantro Pesto
- 1 big bunch cilantro
- 2-3 tbsp walnuts
- 2-3 tbsp Parmesan cheese
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsp of olive or walnut oil
Pulse together first 3 ingredients into a paste.
Drizzle in oil while blade is running until emulsified.
It has such a round, bolder taste than basil pesto, which is fresh and sharp.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I love cilantro and I’d love to try this. If you don’t mind me asking, about how much does this recipe make?
Donna,
I’d say about a cup?
Kath
Thanks for posting your recipe.The cilantro in my garden is finally ready so I can’t wait to try this!
awesome! I have so much cilantro this week from my CSA share and was wondering what to do with it.
I made this last night! Great way to use up cilantro. I added minced garlic.
I was telling my wife that we should start doing our own sauces for pasta and other stuff. This is an easy one to start with. Thanks.
Hey Kath,
Just wondering… do you pick off the cilantro leaves or just throw the whole bunch in there, stems and all?
Rachel,
I try to cut off the very bottoms of the stems, but I throw the upper stems right in!
K
i use cilantro in my mexican and thai- inspired dishes and i wonder how i would incorporate this pesto into them? concerned that the parm. would ‘clash’, but i know that the parm is a good medium for pesto. what do you usually use cilantro pesto in or on? love the site/blog, btw, was clicking around on cable and saw you on some show and went right to my computer! you and yours eat exactly like me and mine do! (except we don’t eat meat but do eat eggs and dairy)
thanks for giving me another procrastination tool! love it!
Jen, I have been using this recipe and subbing (no laughing allowed) drained cottage cheese for the Parmesan, the walnuts and cilantro are strong enough flavors to mask it.
If you like this, you’d love the roasted jalapeno pesto I make. Roast 6 jalapenos (on a gas stove or grill). Steam in a bag and peel. The mix them with pignoli, parm, one clove of garlic, S&P, and EVOO in food processor til smoothe. It’s great spread on steak or mixed in scrambled eggs.
How do you use this pest, with pasta, as spreads? Sorry for the dumb question.
Mostly on sandwiches, but also as a sauce!
I really enjoy your site. I am passionate about cilantro. It’s one of those herbs that one either loves or hates. We frequently make cilantro pesto. I enjoy using different nuts. Pine nuts are a favorite. I also like to put in a dried cayenne pepper.
This is great used as the topping on bruschetta, a topping for sandwiches/wraps or as a pasta sauce.
I made this more times than I can count and it’s perfect – excellent for sandwiches!
http://oliepants.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/cilantro-you-glad-i-didnt-say-basil/