Best 9 Culantro Pesto Recipes

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Culantro pesto is a flavorful and versatile sauce that can be used as a topping for various dishes such as pasta, grilled meats, and sandwiches. It is made with culantro, a herb that is similar to cilantro but with a more intense flavor. This easy-to-make sauce combines fresh culantro, garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and pine nuts into a creamy and aromatic concoction that will elevate your culinary creations. In this article, we will guide you through the steps of making a delicious culantro pesto recipe that will add a vibrant twist to your meals.

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

CILANTRO PESTO



Cilantro Pesto image

"Feel free to make this simple pesto ahead of time and freeze it." This brightly colored pesto tastes as fresh as it looks! Karen Deaver, Babylon Village, NY

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 10m

Yield 1 cup.

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 cup olive oil
Cooked jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

Steps:

  • Place cilantro and cheese in a food processor; cover and pulse until chopped. Add walnuts and lime juice; cover and process until blended. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Serve with shrimp.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 152 calories, Fat 16g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 2mg cholesterol, Sodium 40mg sodium, Carbohydrate 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.

CULANTRO PESTO



Culantro Pesto image

Make this new pesto recipe with a twist: It uses a staple Puerto Rican herb instead of the usual basil.

Provided by Von Diaz

Categories     Cilantro     Parsley     Sauce     Sauce Secrets     Herb     Puerto Rico

Yield Makes about 2 cups

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 garlic cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons pine nuts
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup packed fresh culantro leaves
1/3 cup grated Parmesan and/or Pecorino Romano cheese

Steps:

  • Combine the garlic, salt, pepper to taste, and pine nuts in a food processor. Add the oil and culantro and process until smooth. Add the cheese and pulse to incorporate. Store in an airtight container until ready to use, up to 1 week in the refrigerator or 4 months in the freezer.

CILANTRO PESTO



Cilantro Pesto image

This is a wonderful twist on pesto. Sometimes the basil version gets old and you want to impress everyone at the dinner table or potluck with a tasty new version.

Provided by DragonShoes

Categories     Vegetable

Time 10m

Yield 1 cup, 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup almonds
3 large garlic cloves
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Combine the cilantro, garlic and almonds in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Add the parmesan, oil and salt and puree to a smooth paste. Stir into hot pasta and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 253.9, Fat 24.3, SaturatedFat 3.6, Cholesterol 5.5, Sodium 447.3, Carbohydrate 5, Fiber 2, Sugar 1, Protein 6.3

CILANTRO PESTO



Cilantro Pesto image

Provided by Food Network

Yield 1 cup

Number Of Ingredients 8

6 cloves garlic, peeled
1 bunch fresh parsley, stemmed
1 bunch fresh cilantro, stemmed
2 tablespoons almonds, toasted
4 tablespoons olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Hand chop the garlic, parsley, cilantro, and almonds. Combine the pesto mixture with the oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until well mixed. Serve as a dipping sauce with the tortitas de papas cruda y elote.

GRILLED CAULIFLOWER WITH CILANTRO PESTO



Grilled Cauliflower with Cilantro Pesto image

Provided by Valerie Bertinelli

Categories     side-dish

Time 50m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 large head cauliflower, cut into 1- to 2-inch florets (about 6 cups)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Cilantro Pesto, recipe follows
Cotija cheese and cilantro leaves, for serving
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon lime zest and 3 tablespoons lime juice, from 1 to 2 limes
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 clove garlic, smashed and peeled
2 cups packed cilantro leaves
1 cup roasted and unsalted cashews
1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high.
  • Add the cauliflower, olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to a large mixing bowl. Toss to coat the cauliflower. Transfer to a grill basket and grill, tossing occasionally, until the cauliflower is charred in places and softened, about 10 minutes. (This can alternatively be done on an indoor grill pan.)
  • Transfer the grilled cauliflower to the serving bowl with the Cilantro Pesto and toss to coat.
  • Garnish with Cotija cheese and cilantro. Serve immediately or at room temperature.
  • Add the olive oil, lime zest, lime juice, pepper flakes and garlic to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse together until the garlic is finely chopped. Next, add the cilantro and blend until smooth. Add the cashews and Cotija cheese and pulse until the mixture becomes a thick paste and is evenly combined. Transfer the mixture to a serving bowl and set aside until the cauliflower is grilled.

FABULOUS CILANTRO PESTO



Fabulous Cilantro Pesto image

This is a delicious version of the classic with a little more zip! You can substitute the vinegar with lime juice, lemon juice or Italian salad dressing.

Provided by Gena Urias

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (16 ounce) package farfalle pasta
1 bunch fresh cilantro
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ cup walnuts or pecans
salt to taste
½ cup olive oil

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta, and return water to a boil. Cook pasta for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain well.
  • In an electric food processor or blender, blend cilantro, garlic, vinegar, Parmesan cheese, cayenne pepper, nuts, and salt. Add 1/4 cup of the olive oil, and blend the pesto. Add more olive oil until the pesto reaches your desired consistency.
  • Pour pesto in a small saucepan and warm over low heat, stirring constantly, until pesto begins to simmer. Pour over cooked pasta and toss.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 386.1 calories, Carbohydrate 42.8 g, Cholesterol 2.8 mg, Fat 20.5 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 10.1 g, SaturatedFat 3.1 g, Sodium 54.8 mg, Sugar 2.2 g

CILANTRO-PEPITA PESTO



Cilantro-Pepita Pesto image

This flavorful recipe is one of the ways I came up with to use all the cilantro in my garden. Serve it with pasta, tortilla chips for dipping or in any dish that needs perking up. -Ami Okasinski, Memphis, Tennessee

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 20m

Yield 1-1/2 cups.

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 package (6 ounces) fresh baby spinach
2 cups fresh cilantro leaves
1/3 cup grated Romano cheese
1/3 cup salted pumpkin seeds or pepitas, toasted
3 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons olive oil

Steps:

  • Place the first five ingredients in a food processor; cover and pulse just until chopped. Add the lime and lemon juices and salt; cover and process until blended. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 82 calories, Fat 7g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 3mg cholesterol, Sodium 130mg sodium, Carbohydrate 2g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.

CILANTRO PESTO



Cilantro Pesto image

Traditional basil pesto gets a run for its money with this bright, flavorful Mexican version of the Italian original. Cilantro pesto is best on cold pasta salads and is great as a topping on grilled chicken or fish.

Yield makes 1 1/2 cups

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 cups (packed) cilantro leaves
3/4 cup (packed) añejo or feta cheese
1/2 cup roasted salted sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 jalapeño chile, stemmed and seeded
3/4 cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Combine the cilantro, cheese, sunflower seeds, lime juice, and jalapeño in a food processor and pulse to combine. With the machine running, gradually add the olive oil. Season the pesto to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours. Bring to room temperature and stir before using.

CILANTRO JALAPENO PESTO WITH LIME



Cilantro Jalapeno Pesto with Lime image

This is a spicy alternative to classic basil pesto. You can control the spiciness by using less jalapeno and by removing the seeds and white membrane of the pepper before adding it to the pesto. If you like the spice, just throw it all in!

Provided by Kelly Van Hooser Turner

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes     Pasta Sauce Recipes     Vegetarian

Time 10m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 bunch fresh cilantro
2 ½ tablespoons toasted pine nuts
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
5 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
½ fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Combine the cilantro, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, lime juice, jalapeno pepper, and Parmesan cheese in a blender; pulse until the mixture reaches a soft, paste-like consistency.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 128.5 calories, Carbohydrate 1.9 g, Cholesterol 3.7 mg, Fat 12.4 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 2.8 g, SaturatedFat 2.3 g, Sodium 68.6 mg, Sugar 0.3 g

Tips:

  • Use fresh culantro leaves for the best flavor.
  • If you can't find culantro, you can substitute cilantro, but the flavor will be different.
  • Use a food processor or blender to make the pesto.
  • Be careful not to over-process the pesto, or it will become bitter.
  • You can store the pesto in the refrigerator for up to a week.
  • You can freeze the pesto for up to 3 months.

Conclusion:

Culantro pesto is a delicious and versatile sauce that can be used in a variety of dishes. It's perfect for pasta, sandwiches, salads, and more. The flavor of culantro is unique and refreshing, and it's sure to add a burst of flavor to your next meal. So next time you're looking for a new way to add flavor to your food, give culantro pesto a try. You won't be disappointed!

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