One thing I’ve learned from my CSA farm share—organic vegetables go bad fast. It makes me wonder if the folks over at Whole Paycheck are playing fast and loose with the organic label. (I tease because I’m jealous. Their produce section makes me happier than Bloomingdale’s.) So when I bought a big, beautiful bunch of cilantro at Saturday’s farmer’s market, I knew I needed to do something delicious with it before the end of the weekend.
My taste buds craved the perfect balance of brightness and heat, so I improvised with a few basic ingredients to create an Asian inspired cilantro pesto. What I love about pesto is that you don’t have to be to precise about your ingredients. Like garlic? Add a ton of garlic! Add cheese to make it creamy or more oil so that it soaks well into sandwich bread. It’s done best when suited to your taste.
Cilantro Pesto
- a handful of peanuts
- the whole darned bunch of cilantro leaves
- juice of half a lime
- about a tablespoon of sesame oil
- a clove of raw garlic. Back off vampire trend!
- a few splashes of Sriracha
Combine all the above in a handy mini-chopper and you’re done.
I served my pesto over Japanese wheat noodles. They have a nice bite that pairs well with the boldness of these flavors. Now tell me your pesto secrets!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
non organic cilantro, parsley, and dill also go bad quickly- it’s because they constantly spray them with water in the market-they need to be kept dry!!!
This sounds fantastic for my pesto-loving son.