Keyword
cilantro pasta, creamy cilantro pasta, easy pasta recipes
Prep Time10minutes
Cook Time15minutes
Total Time25minutes
Servings4
Calories727kcal
Ingredients
1lbpasta (500 g) any shape of pasta will work here.
½tbspolive oil
2garlic clovesminced
¾cuphalf-and-half(12% fat) or light cream (20% fat)
Cilantro Pesto:
2cupscilantropacked - you can add the stems, too
½cuproasted almonds
¼cupred onionchopped
¼tspcrushed pepper flakesmore or less to taste
½teaspoonsea salt
2tbsplime juice
¼cupextra virgin olive oil
Instructions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
While the water is heating and pasta is cooking, make the cilantro pesto. Place all the ingredients, except olive oil, in a food processor and pulse until combined and it looks like a rough paste, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. While the food processor is running, pour olive oil in a steady stream and process until smooth.
When pasta is ready, save about ½ cup of pasta water (don’t forget, it’s important for the sauce!) and drain the pasta in a colander.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat, and cook garlic for 30 seconds or so, until fragrant. Pour cream and mix. Turn off the heat and stir in cilantro pesto. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat with the sauce. Add a little bit of pasta cooking water, a little bit at a time, until you reach a perfectly smooth texture. Taste and adjust salt as needed. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Use any nut or seed you like for the sauce. Pine nuts, macadamia or sunflower seeds would work really well.
You can use lemon juice if you cannot find any limes.
While any shape of pasta works here, I recommend you use something like rotini or fusilli as their curves and grooves hold pesto sauces especially well and allow for the sauce to stick to the pasta.
For a tangier pasta sauce, you could stir a couple of tbsps of cream cheese into the pasta sauce once the pasta water has gone in. Delicious!
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Cilantro Pesto Pasta
Amount Per Serving (1 /4)
Calories 727Calories from Fat 279
% Daily Value*
Fat 31g48%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 17mg6%
Sodium 321mg14%
Potassium 494mg14%
Carbohydrates 93g31%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin A 700IU14%
Vitamin C 6mg7%
Calcium 127mg13%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.