Cilantro Pesto

This easy cilantro pesto recipe is yummy and pairs well with beef, chicken, vegetables or rice. It only takes a few minutes to whip up a batch and the flavor is delicious. Give it a try and let’s get cooking!

Cilantro Pesto

A pesto sauce is so easy and making it with cilantro gives it a new twist that pairs well with many dishes. Try it on chicken, beef, rice, vegetables or whatever you desire. You really can't go wrong!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 1.5 cups

Calories 859 kcal

Equipment

• 1 Food processor
• 1 frying pan

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ ⅓ cup pepitas
• ▢ 3 cups cilantro prewashed
• ▢ ½ tsp orange zest
• ▢ 1 clove garlic
• ▢ ¼ tsp salt
• ▢ ½ cup cotija cheese grated or substitute for aged gouda
• ▢ ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

 

• ▢
  Toast pepitas in a dry skillet for 5 minutes or until lightly brown. Let cool.
  ⅓ cup pepitas
• ▢
  Place the pepitas into the food processor and finely crush.
• ▢
  Add the garlic, orange zest and salt into the food processor and blend to make a fine paste.
  1 clove garlic, ¼ tsp salt, ½ tsp orange zest
• ▢
  Add in the washed cilantro leaves and blend until all ingredients are mixed together.
  3 cups cilantro
• ▢
  Slowly add in the cheese and oil, a little at a time while mixing.
  ½ cup cotija cheese, ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ▢
  Serve on meat, vegetables, rice or whatever you desire. Enjoy!
  

Nutrition

Calories: 859kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 12gFat: 90gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 11gMonounsaturated Fat: 57gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 975mgPotassium: 323mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 2376IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 280mgIron: 3mg