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Home » Recipes » Misc. Recipes » Spicy Cilantro Pesto

Spicy Cilantro Pesto

June 5, 2012 2 Comments

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Try this Spicy Cilantro Pesto Recipe that is easy to make with cilantro, cotija cheese, almonds, and chipotles. Also a list of pesto recipe ideas!

(For your shopping convenience, this post contains affiliate links.)

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Recipe - a quick and easy homemade pesto | SnappyGourmet.com

Spicy Cilantro Pesto, an easy recipe for all the cilantro lovers! If you love cilantro as much as I do and you’ve never had cilantro pesto, you’re in for a real treat!  I could eat this Spicy Cilantro Pesto by the spoonfuls!  It’s extremely versatile and very easy to make!  You can make it from not spicy at all to HOT!  Be sure to make a big batch and freeze it in small batches so that you always have some in the house!  I’ve got lots of great ideas on how to use this Cilantro Pesto.

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Recipe | SnappyGourmet.com

This Spicy Cilantro Pesto is so EASY to make!!  I actually quadrupled the recipe and froze all the pesto.  Start with a big bunch of cilantro and cut off the bottom part of the stems.  Don’t worry about the stems with the leaves.  It will all get chopped up in a food processor.

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Recipe | SnappyGourmet.com

I love a little bit of chipotle in my pesto.  If you do NOT like spicy food, you can omit it completely, or add a little at a time until you get the right heat for you and your family.

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Recipe | SnappyGourmet.com

I used Cotija cheese and have used different variations of it depending on what I can find.  This particular variety has the consistency and texture of grated Parmesan cheese.  I have also used other varieties that are more the consistency of feta cheese.  Both work well!  You should be able to find this Cotija cheese in most large grocery stores or your local Hispanic markets.  If you’ve never tried it, definitely give it a try!

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Recipe | SnappyGourmet.com

Most traditional pestos use pine nuts, but I love to use almonds in this version.  These are unsalted almonds that I toasted slightly in the oven and cooled completely.

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Recipe | SnappyGourmet.com

Put the cilantro, chipotle, cotija cheese, and almonds in a food processor along with some garlic cloves, lime juice, and black pepper.

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Recipe | SnappyGourmet.com

Put the top on the food processor and process until everything is finely chopped.

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Recipe | SnappyGourmet.com

While the processor is running, drizzle in the olive oil and watch everything come together!

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Recipe | SnappyGourmet.com

Give everything a taste and adjust as needed with the chipotle and other ingredients.

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Recipe | SnappyGourmet.com

To freeze, I like to divide up the pesto among small resealable bags and place the bags flat in the freezer so they don’t take up much room and can be stacked.  You can also freeze the pesto in ice cube trays then just pop out what you want when you want it!

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Recipe | SnappyGourmet.com

Now are you wondering what to do with all this great Spicy Cilantro Pesto???  Here are some of my favorite ideas:

  • Spread a little pesto on your sandwiches or burgers, or mix a little in with some mayo for a sandwich spread.
  • Mix a little pesto into your favorite pasta salads, potato salads, and coleslaws.
  • Mix a little pesto into your favorite chicken salads, tuna fish, or shrimp salads.
  • Spread a little pesto on crostini or crackers and top with shrimp, sliced beef, or veggies.
  • Mix a little pesto into some sour cream and mayonnaise/yogurt for a delicious veggie or chip dip.
  • Use pesto as a sauce for pasta or mix a little into your favorite tomato sauces.
  • Spoon pesto over a block of softened cream cheese for a spread that is great with crackers and veggies.
  • Spoon a little pesto over tacos or your favorite Mexican dishes.
  • Mix pesto with a little more olive oil and vinegar for a simple vinaigrette dressing for salads.
  • Mix pesto with a little more olive oil and lime juice and use as a marinade or sauce for chicken, beef, shrimp/fish, or pork.
  • Use pesto as a sauce for homemade pizza.
  • Or my personal fave…just eat it straight-up with a spoon!

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Recipe | SnappyGourmet.com

As easy as this pesto is to make, it does make a bit of a mess and your counters and food processor may be a little dirty.  Sorry about that. :)  The cilantro pesto is totally worth the mess but it may take you a few minutes to clean it all up.  

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Recipe | SnappyGourmet.com

Hope you enjoy! Another easy pesto recipe is this delicious Spinach Basil Pesto.

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5 from 1 vote

Spicy Cilantro Pesto

A Mexican twist on traditional pesto!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Yield 1 cup
Author Lisa Huff

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cilantro loosely packed (about 1 large bunch with end of stems cut off)
  • 1/2 cup grated Cotija cheese
  • 1/2 cup unsalted almonds lightly toasted
  • 1-2 chipotles in adobo sauce
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients except olive oil in food processor Process until everything is finely chopped.
  • While food processor is running, drizzle in olive oil until pesto comes together.
  • Store in fridge or freezer.

Notes

SNAPPY TIPS: If you are unsure about the chipotles, add just a little at first then add more as needed.
SNAPPY SUBSTITUTIONS: You can substitute pine nuts for almonds.
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Italian, Mexican
Keywords: Cinco de Mayo recipe, homemade cilantro pesto
Did you try this recipe?Tag @SnappyGourmet or #SnappyGourmet!

Tags: almonds, chipotle, cilantro, cotija, giveaway, pesto, recipe Categories: Misc. Recipes, Recipes

About the Author

Lisa Huff is a Cookbook Author, Freelance Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Blogger/Writer, and award-winning home chef. She loves creating unique recipes from healthy to decadent including cocktails, appetizers, main dishes, dessert recipes and more and has appeared on various shows, publications, and websites. <More about Lisa Huff>

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Josie says

    April 4, 2015 at 1:54 pm

    Love the idea of using cilantro to make pesto! :) Looks so good!

    Reply
  2. Erin @ Platings and Pairings says

    April 4, 2015 at 1:00 pm

    This looks so great – Thanks for the list of uses as well! I was thinking pizza right off the bat and can’t wait to put this to use!

    Reply

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Lisa Huff is a cookbook author, recipe developer, food stylist, food photographer, & award-winning home chef.

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