Cilantro Pesto Recipe: A Wholesome Hug for Your Taste Buds (2024)

Sneak Preview: Say farewell to wilting cilantro with my freezer-friendly Cilantro Pesto Recipe, spiced up with green chiles and fresh jalapeño! Other ingredients include olive oil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice.

Pin

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Fresh cilantro seems to have a short shelf-life in my refrigerator. Often, I buy cilantro for one recipe with plans for using it in many others. But before long, itturns dark and is better suited for an over-the-hill party than my dinner table.

Given my history, transforming a bunch of cilantro leaves into pesto is my best answer.

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Sauce with green chile peppers and jalapeños is fast food for cilantro lovers. It keeps up to three months in the freezer and is ready to eat as fast as you can thaw it.

How Do I Freeze Pesto?

Pin

The snack-size zippered plastic bag is my container of choice.

Add 1-3 tablespoons of prepared pesto to the bag. Gently mash the filled bag into a flattened shape, push out the air, and finally, seal. After it’s frozen, it will be easy to break off the amount you need.

Alternately, pour the pesto into ice cube trays. When frozen, release the cubes from the tray and store them in plastic bags.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• CILANTRO: When handling a bunch of cilantro, make sure to separate the leaves and discard any blackened ones. There’s no real replacement for the unique flavor of cilantro; although parsley can work, it won’t truly be cilantro pesto.
  • To measure, you can weigh out four ounces with a kitchen scale. Alternatively, a single large, lush cilantro bunch should suffice. If you can only find smaller, slender bundles at the store, it’s a good idea to grab two bunches for a fuller flavor.”
• OLIVE OIL: Nothing beats a good olive oil. Avocado oil or mild vegetable oil will also work.
• GARLIC: Fresh garlic cloves (not the whole bulb) is the way to go if you can. If you’re not a garlic lover, decrease the amount or leave it out.
• GREEN CHILES: Green chiles pair perfectly with cilantro. I usually use the canned variety.
• JALAPEÑOS: Store whole fresh jalapeños in your freezer for a convenient, always-ready supply. They occupy minimal space and need no special preparation—simply place them in a small plastic bag and seal it.
  • In the past, I might have considered pickled jalapeño peppers as a substitute for fresh ones. However, now that I’ve discovered the freezing method, using fresh peppers is just as effortless. They bring a milder, superior flavor to this cilantro pesto recipe.
  • For a gentler taste, remove the seeds. If you’re craving an extra kick, leave them in to spice up your pesto even further.
• PARMESAN CHEESE: Once again, it’s hard to beat the rich flavor of fresh Parmesan cheese. Pecorino Romano is a suitable alternative if needed. However, the powdery, processed Parmesan from the green jar just won’t make the cut in my kitchen.
• LEMON: Squeeze half of a lemon into your pesto, and you’re good. Substitute lime for the lemon if you like.

What Can I Do With Cilantro Pesto?

Pin

Add this concentrated flavor of cilantro pesto to a bowl of rice or pasta. Or stir it into Greek yogurt for a delicious dip or salad dressing. It works great on the daily salads that I vacuum seal into Mason jars.

Use in place of pizza sauce on a pizza. Then top with cheese and meat, in that order. Use it to perk up plain rice or spaghetti.

Try pesto as a condiment on a grilled chicken sandwich or hamburger. Add it to soups that specify fresh cilantro if all the flavors play nicely.

How To Make Cilantro Pesto

Pin

Pin

Pin

Pin

FAQ About Cilantro Pesto

Parting Thoughts: Have you ever tried to grow cilantro? It thrives in cooler climates, with temperatures ideally ranging from 50 to 85˚F. In Texas, where I reside, successful cilantro growth is limited to the spring and fall. Consequently, I often find myself purchasing entire bunches at the supermarket, even when only a few sprigs are needed. This recipe serves as my solution for numerous dishes that require chopped cilantro as part of a blend. I hope you find this recipe useful.