Cilantro Pesto

5 from 6 votes

This simple cilantro pesto is bright, bold, and packed with flavor. Made with fresh cilantro, almonds and garlic, it’s the perfect way to use up extra herbs and add a punch of freshness to your pasta.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Condiments

Keyword: cilantro pesto, cilantro pesto recipe, cilantro pesto recipes, coriander pesto, pesto cilantro recipe, pesto recipe cilantro, recipe cilantro pesto

Servings: servings

Calories: 161kcal

Author: Melissa Belanger

Ingredients

1/2 cup slivered almonds or 2/3 cup whole almonds
2 cups fresh cilantro large stems removed
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper optional

Instructions

To make the pesto: Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Blend until smooth, scraping sides as needed, until the pesto is a consistent, bright green color. Adjust seasoning with salt & pepper, to taste.
To use as pasta sauce: Cook 1 pound of pasta according to package directions in a large pot of salted water. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining. Toss pasta with about 1 cup of pesto sauce and add 1 - 2 tablespoons pasta water at a time until sauce reaches desired consistency.
Storage instructions: Transfer pesto sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use. Sauce can be stored for up to 5 days in the fridge, or frozen for up to 6 months.

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