What are you cooking today?

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Cilantro Pine Pesto (For Spaghetti)

It all started yesterday night, i was too lazy and breaking my head thinking what to make for dinner, finally i picked a few things and ended up making this refreshing pesto, man oh man! it tasted out of the world. I was in such a hurry to take my final plating picture and can't wait to gobble the spaghetti . Pine nuts gave the pesto a fantastic texture and the crushed pepper flakes gives a nice kick. Also i ground the pesto a bit chunky and loved the crunch of pine nuts here and there in my bites. It hardly took 15 mins of my time to make it. When Senthil came home with his eyes and nose sniffing (as usual) the kitchen, the spaghetti didn't look very appetizing. Once he started eating, i heard mmm, mmm, mmm and lots of mmm. It was really funny when he sounded as if he knew everything in it. When i asked him to guess the ingredients, olive oil was the only one he said that was right. He couldn't believe that cilantro was the star, but trust me, if i hadn't prepared it, i wouldn't have believed it either. Forgot to mention this, today morning he came and asked for any left over spaghetti for breakfast. I gave him the bowl,  in a blink of an eye he cleaned the bowl, without any traces of it. So, you gotta try it and  here goes the recipe,
Ingredients:

1/2 cup Cilantro (tightly packed)
1/4 cup roasted Pine nuts or (Macademia nuts or Walnuts or Almonds)
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive oil
1tbsp Lemon juice
1-2 Garlic pod 
1 piece ginger (1")
1/2tsp crushed Red pepper flakes
Salt
1/2lb Whole grain Spaghetti
1tsp Olive oil
Salt

How to:
  • Bring water to a rolling boil in a sauce pan along with salt and olive oil, add the spaghetti, cook for 6-7 mins or until al-dente.
  • Drain'em in a colander, saving 1/4 cup of pasta water.
  • For Pesto, blend together all the 1st set of ingredients and check salt for taste.
  • Mix the saved pasta water and the pesto, pour it over the spaghetti and mix well.
  •  Serve warm with roasted brussels sprout.


18 comments:

  1. I just love pesto all kind...cilantro pesto looks so yum n fresh!!


    US Masala

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like the mish mash of flavors since I indulge in this a lot myself - very interesting and lovely post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love pesto. This looks colorful and and full of flavor.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thats a very healthy spaghetti,luks yum...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nice vibrant colors.. love Pesto Pasta..

    ReplyDelete
  6. Pesto looks so vibrant and colorful. Loved the look of it.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

    ReplyDelete
  7. Whooo, that looks stunningly delicious, wonderful job...love the fresh home-made, perfect

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yummy..Totally have to say Aaha Oohoooooo:-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yummy recipe and u have a wonderful space. Glad to follow u dear...

    kurinjikathambam

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yumm yumm, thats a catchy and inviting pesto..feel like finishing that tempting plate of spaghettis..

    ReplyDelete
  11. wow, looks yummy n very healthy..nice color Nidhya..:D
    Tasty appetite

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sounds totally new to me...looks super yumm

    ReplyDelete
  13. The platter looks awesome Nidhya..Looks great..

    ReplyDelete
  14. Its totally new to me. I'm going to try it this weekend. Happy to follow you.
    There is an event announcement at my place, peep in whenever you get time.
    showandtell-vatsala.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. love the pesto its cooked to perfection love it..u hv a nice space..

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please leave a word or line, all your comments are valued and highly appreciated. Keep coming for more recipes.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails