Easy, Healthy Cilantro Pesto

This easy, healthy cilantro pesto is a great way to change up the usual basil pesto and is a delicious accompaniment to many meals.

Hi guys! Happy Wednesday (and Happy Birthday to my Madre)! 🙂

I unofficially dub this week sauces and spreads week on the blog. First the chia jam, and now this lovely spread:

Cilantro pesto

Cilantro Pesto

My little herb garden has exploded. The basil is still waiting to catch up with the cilantro, but in the meantime, I was excited to make something using the abundance of this:

Cilantro in a pot

I was inspired to make a pesto after quickly going through the tub I bought with the bolani bread at Costco. It was especially fantastic on bread, but would also be a great sauce for zucchini noodles, a wrap filling or chicken topping.

Here’s what I used:

Cilantro pesto ingredients

 

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Cilantro Pesto

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Ingredients

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  • 1/4 cup roasted almonds
  • 1 bunch cilantro
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 large clove garlic
  • 1 lemon
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend until finely mixed.

Easy and delicious!

This easy, healthy cilantro pesto is a great way to change up the usual basil pesto and is a delicious accompaniment to many meals. fitnessista.com

 

I’ll be back later today with some adventures 🙂

xoxo

Gina

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28 Comments

  1. Rachel @ Blonde with a Chanse on June 11, 2014 at 10:24 am

    Yum! I have never had anything like this before but it looks and sounds so good! Your pictures have me drooling 🙂

  2. Britt@MyOwnBalance on June 11, 2014 at 10:58 am

    I love making my own pesto! It tastes so much better than store bought kind. Cilantro pesto is a good idea!

  3. Cassy @ On The Inside on June 11, 2014 at 11:04 am

    Up until a couple of months ago I really thought I absolutely hated cilantro, then I tried a ceviche with it and realized the amazingness that it is! I don’t know what I was thinking. I put it in everything now, so this pesto sounds right up my alley!

  4. RachelG on June 11, 2014 at 11:04 am

    I was glad to read a New York Times article last year which said that the hatred of cilantro is actually genetic. My dad loves it but my mom and I absolutely fear it and the way we (& other people i know who hate it) describe it is almost exactly the same. Yup, I’m that girl at the Mexican restaurants asking for zero pico de gallo. 😉 lol

  5. Alex @ Kenzie Life on June 11, 2014 at 11:26 am

    Oh heck yes! This looks amazing! I’m actually not the biggest fan of basil pesto (except this whipped one at an Italian restaurant near my parents’ house) but I am all down with cilantro!

  6. april on June 11, 2014 at 11:45 am

    yum, i love the idea of using cilantro and spinach in pesto. i think it would be delicious on baked chicken or fish.

    have so much fun in SF! 🙂

  7. Laura B @ FitMamaLove on June 11, 2014 at 11:58 am

    I’m so jealous of your cilantro! Mine always dies while my other herbs grows.

    Hope your Stitch Fix trip is just as fun as the last one! I swear, so many bloggers have been in the Bay Area in the last week.

  8. Nic on June 11, 2014 at 12:05 pm

    Super cute food photos Gina!

    I am anxiously awaiting Summer Shape-Up!

  9. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on June 11, 2014 at 12:29 pm

    This looks amazing! I love putting pesto on everything and anything. I really like it on salmon.

    And have so much fun at Stitchfix! I can’t wait for the recaps!

  10. Kristen @ Vitamin K Girl on June 11, 2014 at 12:34 pm

    Oh man, can’t wait to make this!

  11. Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed on June 11, 2014 at 12:41 pm

    Soooo I definitely need to plant some cilantro! I love it in all my Mexican dishes, yum 🙂

  12. Colleen on June 11, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    I have really noticed how much more professional your food photos look lately, nice work! I’m not a photog by any means, but I can tell you have been putting more effort into presentation and composition. I just made the chia jam this morning, and it was great, can’t wait to try the cilantro pesto. I bet it would be great on a grilled veggie wrap with corn, peppers, onions, and black beans!

  13. Tracy on June 11, 2014 at 1:24 pm

    With regard to the “love it or hate it” theory for cilantro, I’m definitely in the love it camp. I can never have too much! This pesto sounds delicious!

    Can’t wait to hear about your Stitch Fix adventures!!

  14. Polly @ Tasty Food Project on June 11, 2014 at 1:25 pm

    I love pesto and like how it’s so easy to make!

    Can’t wait to hear about your San Francisco adventures!

  15. Dominique @ Eat, Pray, Lift on June 11, 2014 at 1:34 pm

    Cilantro is one of my favorite herbs, so this sounds divine! I’m thinking it would be perfect mixed in a chicken+veggie bowl. 🙂

  16. Heather on June 11, 2014 at 1:56 pm

    I see the almonds in the ingredients but not in the directions. When do those go in? Thanks!

    • Fitnessista on June 11, 2014 at 2:04 pm

      Fixed it- thank you!

  17. Harsha @ Healthy Cooking 'N' Fitness on June 11, 2014 at 2:29 pm

    Never tried using cilantro in pesto. I have been growing lots of herbs in my garden and my cilantro plant is growing like crazy. Need to make this asap.

  18. mary on June 11, 2014 at 2:35 pm

    HAHA- Adchoices is showing me an ad for a Smith & Wesson rifle across the top of your post.

  19. Livi on June 11, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    Yum!! Looks amazing!

  20. Tara | Treble in the Kitchen on June 11, 2014 at 3:11 pm

    Can’t wait to hear more about your StichFix event!! And the pesto looks tasty! I’ve altered the greens and used kale instead of basil, but I’ve never used a different nuts…I’ll have to give it a try! Thanks for the yummy idea!

  21. Michele @ paleorunningmomma on June 11, 2014 at 3:39 pm

    An herb garden sounds so fancy. And yummy! That pesto sounds incredible and I would love to do that with some chicken and spaghetti squash. Looks great 🙂

  22. Racheal @ Running with Racheal on June 11, 2014 at 4:13 pm

    Have fun at Stitch Fix – you deserve it. 🙂

  23. Cassie on June 11, 2014 at 4:55 pm

    LOOOVE StitchFix! I was there a couple months ago for a focus group and the office is really cool!

  24. Megan @ The Skinny-Life on June 11, 2014 at 5:25 pm

    I haven’t made my own pest in awhile. This looks so fresh and light!

  25. Haley @Cupcakes and Sunshine on June 11, 2014 at 6:56 pm

    LOVE cilantro and LOVE pesto. can’t wait to put them both together to make this!

  26. Catherine @ foodiecology on June 11, 2014 at 9:45 pm

    Yum! I love all kinds of pesto, but I’ve never thought to try a cilantro version.

  27. Ali on June 12, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    I just moved to San Fran! We should plan a meet up! <3

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