Sauced: Cilantro Pesto Recipe

Sauced

Sauces, dips, dressings, and condiments from around the world.

Joshua Bousel
Published: Last Updated:
Sauced: Cilantro Pesto Recipe

When making basil pesto, I just kept thinking about all the possible pesto variations. But since cilantro is my favorite herb, it was the natural next step on what will become a deep pesto exploration.

Staying true to my basil recipe that has worked so well, I went down the ingredient list and made fitting substitutions to complement the flavor of cilantro—pine nuts became pumpkin seeds and Parmesan was replaced with cotija. I added a serrano pepper for just a bit of heat and lime juice to for a fresh acidity.

What came together went beyond my expectations and made a pesto that I would take over basil almost any day.

The distinct freshness of the cilantro paired with the saltiness of the cotija were the two dominate flavors, but the background notes had a little nuttiness, a garlic bite, and a faint heat. A very layered pesto. I couldn't wait to use it, so I quickly grilled up a skirt steak, spread on the cilantro pesto, and was in heaven.

Read more: Pantry Essentials: All About Pesto

  • Yield:Makes 1 cup
  • Active time: 15 minutes
  • Total time:15 minutes
  • Rated: 3.8

Ingredients

  • 2 cups packed fresh cilantro, rinsed and dried
  • 3 medium garlic cloves
  • 1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
  • 1/4 olive oil
  • 1/4 cup cotija cheese
  • 1 serrano pepper, seeded and roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoons lime juice
  • Kosher salt

Directions

  1. 1.

    Place cilantro and pepitas in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until cilantro and pepitas are finely chopped, about 5 1 second pulses, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Add garlic and serrano pepper and pulse to combine.

  2. 2.

    With the food processor running, pour oil through feed tube in a slow, steady stream. Keep food processor running until smooth, stopping to scrap down sides of bowl as necessary.

  3. 3.

    Add the cotija cheese and lime juice and pulse to combine. Season with salt to taste. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or in a Ziploc bag in the freezer for up to six months.

This Recipe Appears In
Pantry Essentials: All About Pesto

This post may contain links to Amazon or other partners; your purchases via these links can benefit Serious Eats. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.

Comments
ADD A COMMENT

Add a rating with your comment:

Comments can take a minute to appear—please be patient! Some comments may be held for manual review.

PREVIEW YOUR COMMENT