I first tasted cilantro pesto a few years back at August restaurant in New York. It came spread on toasted baguette as an accompaniment to a shared starter of steamed mussels; it was a revelation. I have been craving and making it religiously since then.
I toss it with pasta, spread it on bread, serve it with eggs, use it with crostini, and more. It’s really very versatile. But still, my strongest association with it is with mussels, and every time I make them I must have toasted baguette with cilantro pesto on the side. If you have that terrible hereditary thing where cilantro tastes like soap, then, well, I’m sorry for you. Everyone else, you’ll love this.
Cilantro Pesto
Yield: 2 cups (ish)
INGREDIENTS
1 bunch cilantro
4 cloves garlic
1½ ounces pine nuts
¼ cup olive oil
1/8 to ¼ cup grated parmesan
Salt and pepper
METHOD:
Put the cilantro in a food processor and pulse until chopped. Add the garlic and pine nuts and pulse to combine. Add about half the olive oil and blend until a paste begins to form. Add remaining olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Taste, season with salt and pepper, and add pine nuts, garlic, parmesan, salt or pepper as needed. Toss with pasta or serve on toasted bread.
I’ve always been a huge fan of cilantro pesto! (or anything cilantro for that matter…) Have you ever been to Pio Pio in NYC? They make a spicy green sauce that is cilantro and jalepeno based that is amazing. I believe it’s a Peruvian sauce called Aji.
Ooh I’ve never been to Pio Pio, but that sauce sounds amazing! I will have to go there when I’m next home.
I have a couple of questions for you… 1)Do you do use cilantro leaves only or do you include the stems? 2)What is 1 1/2 oz of pine nuts approx equivalent to in cups? Thanks 🙂
Hi Stacy! Great questions. I use mostly leaves but also some stems (it depends how good your food processor is) and 1 1/2 oz pine nuts should be about 1/3 cup. I hope you enjoy! This reminds me that I need to make this again soon 🙂