Did I mention that I love sandwiches? And I have been having them! They have been delicious – especially the addition of hummus.
But, as with the seasons, it was time for a change.
There’s a new sandwich spread in town and it’s not fancy. It’s not shmancy. It’s just really good. Like really. good.
Cilantro Pesto.
Say hello.
Note: I hate raw unadulterated cilantro. It’s got too much of a bite that I can’t take.
So, when I started making this, I thought this might be a no-go. Not so.
The mix of the spicy cilantro with the mellow walnut and the nutty parmesan really make this spread/sauce work beautifully together. Like having the perfect number of people on the see-saw to make it go up and down.
You didn’t just have one person on each side did you? If so, well…we rolled a little differently at my school. It could have been that the swing-set was always ‘under repair’ from some kid that broke it or tossed up the swing seats and got it rolled on the bars – were you that kid? If so, I’m mad at you.
Back to the pesto!
It’s yummy.
It’s cheap. Basil is way more expensive than cilantro. And, pine nuts – don’t even get me started on that price!
Helpful hint: Instead of having to mince garlic for the spread, put it first into the food processor before adding everything else.
So you can imagine what my lunch looked like today!
A fabulous sandwich with sliced turkey and gouda.
It pairs well with dijon mustard.
For all that is good and great – go home, make this dip. It will change your life.
Cilantro Pesto
Inspired by KERF
Ingredients:
- 1 bunch cilantro, rinsed
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 tbsp olive oil
Directions:
- Mince garlic cloves in food processor.
- Add cilantro, walnuts and parmesan cheese; puree until it forms a paste.
- Add salt and pepper.
- While processing, add olive oil through the spout until everything is mixed together well.
I actually LOVE cilantro – my Indian dad would be proud of me for admitting this. I’ve never had it in pesto form though – it looks amazing!
It might be time to finally splurge and get a food processor!
I like to think that a food processor is a necessity! A $150 Barbie is a splurge. But, I also consider watches a necessity – all 10 of them!
I love pesto! I’ve never made cilantro pesto before, but it sounds so good. I definitely prefer cilantro to basil.
I have been meaning to try cilantro pesto for the longest time. It looks right up my alley, I am sort of obsessed with cilantro. Especially in guacamole!
Both your title and your playground rant made me smile.
It was a serious issue in school!
This looks delicious! And I love pesto on sandwiches. I make a dairy-free version without the cheese.
I was deciding if I should leave out the cheese altogether but I had a small piece that I knew nothing else to do with! I will definitely be trying your version next. My fridge is always stocked with cilantro with no use for some reason!
Yeah, I gotta confess to getting sucked in by the title, too – nicely done. I was starting to consider easing up on puns in my titles, but now…. hmmmm.
This looks awesome! A good spread can make or break a sandwich.It’d be easy enough to use Daiya “cheese” and make this vegan if one were so inclined. My tiny, plastic co-writers and I are gonna put this on “the list” for sure.
Thanks for posting.
When I wrote the title – I thought to myself: “This is really dumb.” Then, you came along! THANKS for getting sucked in!
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I LOVE cilantro- this recipe sounds right up my alley! There’s a Mexican market in town that always has cilantro for ridiculously cheap and I always have walnuts on hand. Definitely making this over the weekend. Thanks for sharing!
Cutest post title!
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