Easy Cilantro Pesto Recipe with Spinach and Walnuts
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Traditionally pesto recipes are made with two main ingredients of basil and pine nuts. Our Cilantro Pesto Recipe with Spinach and Walnuts adds a tasty and budget friendly new twist to homemade pesto.
When I think of cilantro, I imagine flavorful Mexican food, such as burritos, enchiladas and quesadillas. Consequently, when I discovered this pesto recipe entitled "Cilantro Walnut Pesto Sauce" I was intrigued.
Normally, the three main ingredients in pesto are fresh basil, pine nuts, and olive oil. However, instead of basil and pine nuts, this cilantro pesto recipe substitutes a combination of cilantro and spinach for the basil and walnuts for the pine nuts. One could even propose that this is a budget friendly homemade pesto recipe as generally cilantro is less expensive than basil, and walnuts are less costly than pine nuts. Regardless, this recipe provides a delicious twist on pesto!
Cilantro is a fresh leafy green herb which is also called coriander or Chinese parsley.
Some of the nutritional benefits of cilantro are:
Recipe Options
If you want a thick mild pesto spread for a sandwich or a warm panini, follow the Cilantro Walnut Pesto Sauce recipe below precisely. However, if you want a thinner sauce for pasta, measure and add olive oil slowly to your desired texture. Note, if you log your food intake, remember to add this extra olive oil to obtain an accurate nutritional analysis.
Toppings: To enhance the taste experience even further, top pasta and pesto sauce with chopped walnuts and freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Freezing: I like to freeze pesto in an ice cube tray. When frozen, I pop the cubes out and put in a freezer container. When I need a quick meal, I just thaw a cube or two depending on how much pasta I make and have a delicious meal at a moment's notice.
Yield: 5 servings (1 serving = 2 Tablespoons)
Nutrition facts per serving (2 Tablespoons = 30 grams)
Calories: 138, 14 g fat, 2 g carbohydrate, 3 g protein, 1 g dietary fiber, 289 mg sodium
This is one of 200+ dietitian-approved recipes that will be available with the Premium membership this winter 2019-2020.
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