Cilantro Peanut Pesto Pasta
Bright, bold, and totally addictive, this cilantro peanut pesto is a fun twist on tradition. Think classic Italian meets the savory magic of peanut sauce, perfect for livening up noodles, veggies, or grilled chicken. One bite, and you’ll be hooked on its nutty, herby goodness!
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 489kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound linguine or other pasta
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/3 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup roasted peanuts
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cloves garlic peeled
For serving:
- Chopped peanuts
- Cilantro leaves
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Cook the pasta. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook your pasta according to the package directions. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Make the pesto. Combine the pesto ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth. Then, transfer to a bowl or mason jar until ready to use. Store in an airtight container for up to one week in the fridge.
- Toss everything together. Return the pasta to the pot, and add the pesto sauce, adding pasta water as needed to reached desired consistency and help the sauce bind to the pasta.
- Garnish and serve. Adjust seasoning with salt & pepper to taste and garnish with extra cilantro, peanuts and lime wedges.
Notes
Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining pasta. Add 2-3 tablespoons of pasta water when tossing the pasta with pesto sauce to stretch and thicken sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 489kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 19g | Sodium: 600mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin C: 4mg