Cilantro-Lime Pesto

(from 226-2tone’s recipe box)

Makes 3/4 cup pesto, enough for 1 pound of pasta

Use medium-sized garlic cloves. Thoroughly dry the cilantro leaves before processing them (as oil and water don’t mix). You may associate pesto with pasta, but it’s also good in a sandwich, on fish, or stirred into soup.

Source: Cook's Country June/July 2011 (CC and CI collection) (from RecipeThing user Bethany)

Ingredients

  • 3 cloves garlic, unpeeled
  • 1/4 cup shelled pistachios
  • 2 cups fresh cilantro leaves
  • 7 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated lime zest
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • Salt and pepper

Directions

  1. Toast garlic in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and skins are just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add pistachios and continue to cook until garlic is spotty brown and nuts are golden, 2 to 3 minutes. When it is cool enough to handle, peel garlic.

  2. Process garlic, nuts, cilantro, oil, Pecorino Romano, lime zest, lime juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in food processor until smooth, scraping down bowl as needed, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (Pesto can be covered with 1 tablespoon oil and refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 1 month.)

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