Cilantro Lime Pesto Pasta Recipes

FABULOUS CILANTRO PESTO

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.

CREAMY CILANTRO PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
• While the water is heating and pasta is cooking, make the cilantro pesto. Place all the ingredients, except olive oil, in a food processor and pulse until combined and it looks like a rough paste, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. While the food processor is running, pour olive oil in a steady stream and process until smooth.
• When pasta is ready, save about 1/2 cup of pasta water (don't forget, it's important for the sauce!) and drain the pasta in a colander.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat, and cook garlic for 30 seconds or so, until fragrant. Pour cream and mix. Turn off the heat and stir in cilantro pesto. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat with the sauce. Add a little bit of pasta cooking water, a little bit at a time, until you reach a perfectly smooth texture. Taste and adjust salt as needed. Serve immediately.

CILANTRO LIME PESTO

Steps:

• Add the cilantro, pistachios, jalapeño, garlic, lime zest, lime juice, salt and pepper to the bowl of a food processor or blender. Blend or pulse until the ingredients are all finely chopped and well combined. Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• With the blender running on a low speed, pour in the the olive oil into the blender in a slow and steady stream (this allows the pesto to emulsify which prevents the oil from separating later).
• Blend until you reach your desired consistency (for a thinner pesto sauce add an addition 1-3 tablespoons oil).
• Taste and season with black pepper and more salt as needed.
• Keep stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer up to six months.

PASTA WITH SHRIMP AND CILANTRO-LIME PESTO

Steps:

• Blend 1 1/4 cups cilantro leaves and next 4 ingredients in processor until coarse puree forms. With machine running, gradually add 1/2 cup oil. Season generously with salt. (Pesto can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill).
• Cook linguine in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 Tb oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook until almost opaque in center, about 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; add tequila. Return skillet to heat and stir until sauce is syrupy, about 30 seconds. Add pesto; stir to coat. Remove from heat.
• Add pasta to sauce in skillet; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Divide pasta and shrimp among 4 plates. Sprinkle Cotija cheese and chopped cilantro over and serve.