4.9 from 36 votes
Cilantro Pesto
This quick and easy cilantro pesto recipe is the perfect way to use up any extra cilantro you have. Serve on grilled meat, seafood, pasta and more!
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 120 kcal
Course:
Condiments
Cuisine:
Mexican
Ingredients
- 3 cups loosely packed cilantro
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/3 cup cotija cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 3 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 1/2 limes)
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender and pulse until mostly smooth.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Makes about 1 1/2 cups pesto.
- When measuring the cilantro, there's no need to remove the leaves from the stems. Simply remove and discard any extra long stems, and then loosely pack the cilantro into a measuring cup.
- Don't have cotija cheese? Use crumbled feta or shredded parmesan cheese instead. They both have a similar flavor and the perfect amount of saltiness like cotija cheese!
- Instead of sliced almonds, you can use pine nuts. Or if you have whole almonds, just give them a quick chop before measuring them out.
- Don't have red onions? Use white onions instead, or you can completely leave them out. The pesto will still be delicious.
Nutrition Information
Serving
2tablespoons
Calories
120kcal
(6%)
Carbohydrates
2g
(1%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
12g
(18%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Cholesterol
4mg
(1%)
Sodium
243mg
(10%)
Potassium
62mg
(2%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
288IU
(6%)
Vitamin C
3mg
(3%)
Calcium
35mg
(4%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 120
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 2tablespoons | |
| Calories | 120kcal | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 2g | 1% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 12g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 4mg | 1% |
| Sodium | 243mg | 10% |
| Potassium | 62mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 288IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 35mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.