While I pride myself with coming up with tasty and unique recipes, I too find inspiration online and in the thousands of cook books and magazines I have acquired over the years. OK, maybe not thousands, but hundreds for sure. This recipe was too good not to pass on. If you share a love and overabundance of cilantro like I do, you will appreciate this. Seriously, my cilantro is growing like crazy this year! While this recipe is from Martha Stewart Everyday Food, it was actually passed on to me from my good friends at Our Best Bites. So, I don't know them know them, I just know them. Fine, I subscribe to their blog and love everything they post and it's all yummy and I hope to be like them some day. Happy?
This quick and easy recipe stands alone, but can also be the base to an extraordinary summer meal. Add some thinly sliced grilled steak, or serve along side chicken or veggie skewers. Enjoy!
Pasta with Cilantro-Peanut Pesto
Recipe slightly adapted from Martha Stewart Everyday Food
Ingredients
1 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped (about 1 cup)
1 clove garlic, smashed, peeled, and roughly chopped
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
zest and juice from one lime (about 2 tsp zest and 2 Tbs juice)
1/4 cup roasted peanuts (plus more for serving, if desired)
2-3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
3/4 pound (12 oz) linguine or spaghetti, cooked according to box instructions
Instructions
In a food processor, combine cilantro (save a bit of cilantro for garnish), garlic, ginger, vegetable and sesame oils, red pepper flakes, lime zest and juice, brown sugar, and peanuts (basically everything except soy sauce). Pulse until a coarse paste forms. Season with soy sauce and pulse to combine. In a large bowl, toss pesto with hot pasta. Roughly chop additional peanuts and sprinkle over pasta along with extra cilantro leaves and lime wedges if desired. Serve immediately. (If you’re prepping and not quite ready to eat yet, I recommend waiting to toss with pasta until right before serving for the best flavor.) Serves 4 main dish or 6-8 small sides.
