Tuesday 11 September 2012

Cilantro-Parsley Pesto.. Indian Chutney in an Italian Avatar

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Hello everyone!!
I’m back with yet another quick recipe and this time it is not a meal but a dip or in an Indian terminology, a chutney. In India we make chutneys of various kinds dry, wet, with oil, without oil. If we start looking out for various chutneys of different regions in India, thousands of recipes would surface.
Pesto is also a kind of chutney and has an Italian origin. A traditional  pesto has basil, parmesan cheese, olive oil, pine nuts and garlic. The word pesto  has originated from the word ‘Pestare’ which means ‘to pound’. But traditionally the pesto is not pounded but ‘ground’ in the pestle and mortar.  Traditionally a   Pesto is made with basil but today a variety of Pesto using different ingredients are available.

In India every household has it’s own chutney recipe and of all the chutneys made, coriander chutney is most common. This coriander chutney can also be made in various ways and one of the ways also makes use of peanuts. While making this peanut version of coriander chutney, it suddenly occurred to me,  that with a few changes in this chutney I could convert  it into an Italian preparation.  I experimented with my thought and gladly I succeeded too and this version  of coriander pesto  was produced. It turned out a far cheaper version as compared to the Basil Pesto, as pine nuts as well as the   basil leaves are very expensive here. I served the pesto with home made herbed bun and I must say, it was a great combination to eat.

Cilantro-Parsley Pesto

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Preparation Time:10mins

        Serves:4

 

Ingredients

a small handful cilantro/ coriander/ hara dhaniya
a small quantity of parsley
2-3tbsp roasted and peeled peanuts/ bhuna mungfali dana
3-4 plum garlic cloves/ lahsun
1/4cup extra virgin olive oil/ jaitun ka tel
about 4tbsp parmesan cheese
1/4tsp of salt

Method

In a mixer pot take washed cilantro and parsley leaves.   Add garlic to it.
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Add roasted peanuts.
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Add cheese, salt and olive oil. The cheese also has salt so less salt is added.
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Grind to a coarse paste.
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Serve as a sandwich spread or a dip.
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This dip can be stored in an air tight container for about 8-10days in a refrigerator.
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27 comments:

Unknown said...

like the color of chutney.. it has come up well..

Hema said...

Such beautiful color, can't take my eyes from the screen..

Perspectivemedley said...

Flavor!! Thank you for the intro about pesto.. Love the color!

Shruti Dhingra Wahi said...

Looks yummy :-)
perfect green colour !!!

shrutirasoi

Today's Recipe
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Madhavi said...

And I love this Avatar..great pesto!!!

http://vegetarianmedley.blogspot.com/

Az said...

So nicely done!!

Divya A said...

Such a vibrant color and really nice twist :)
Today's Recipe ~ Wheat Flour Kheer / Godhumai Maavu Paayasam
You Too Can Cook Indian Food Recipes

Shama Nagarajan said...

awesome ..join me in Fast food - Pasta , Know your Sweetness - honey and Know your Flours -Corn flour event in my blog.

Sanoli Ghosh said...

wow........what a vibrant colour. very flavorful spread, cilantro, parsley and parmesan......just awesome dear.

Sahasra Recipes said...

Yummy & grate taste.

Sanghi said...

yummy! do check my blogs dear!

great-secret-of-life said...

Lovely.. I like Pesato ..not tried with Parsley

Will try

Great-secret-of-life.blogspot.com

Shobha said...

I like this variation ..
Lovely colour of the chutney..
beautiful clicks..

Indian Khana said...

Looks so gud ...lovely colour ...I do something same too

Unknown said...

Lovely green color u have there. I am big Pesto Fan, liked ur Indian version.

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Unknown said...

catching up with your blog posts after a long time Pari. Loving them all so much! Especially the focaccia bread is wow!! :D

Foodomania!

NILIMA said...

Hi,
Nice idea!
Please mention the quantity of cheese to be added.

Nilima

Amarendra said...

The colour of Pesto is excellent. You can experience the freshness from the image. Too good.

Unknown said...

Lovely and colorful.. Nice and interesting pesto!!!

Sowmya

Ongoing Event - Coconut

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virunthu unna vaanga said...

so nice flavorful chutney... n colorful...
VIRUNTHU UNNA VAANGA

Unknown said...

love the innovative recipe and the color too good and worth trying

Priya
Cook like Priya

Priya Suresh said...

Super catchy and eye pleasing pesto,simply loving it.

Saraswathy Balakrishnan said...

tempting pesto dear:)

Unknown said...

lovely colour and so tempting recipe..

preeti garg said...

Wow... Awesome color...

Unknown said...

Green and delicious!!!!!

Archana said...

delicious. Will make it tomorrow. No postponements any more.

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