Cilantro Walnut Pesto

• 1/4 chopped walnuts
• 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
• 1 bunch cilantro
• 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1. Heat the walnuts in skillet over medium heat to toast. They are done when they smell slightly toasty and nutty.
2. Meanwhile, get to chopping. Start with the garlic then gradually add in the cilantro, cheese, and evenutally the walnuts when toasted. Chop until the mixture is very fine, almost a paste. Add the seasonings, zest and juice and mix.
3. Pour a drizzle of olive oil over the pesto slowly until it is saturated. Taste it and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
4. When serving, reserve 1/4 cup hot cooking liquid and toss in a bowl with the hot pasta or veggies. Do not cook or it will lose a lot of its flavor. Add extra oil and lemon juice or rice vinegar to make it a dressing. A good dressing ratio is 2 parts oil to one part acid.

walnuts, fresh garlic, cilantro, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/cilantro-walnut-pesto-393376 (may not work)