There is this restaurant in Charlotte called Cowfish, and it is one of my top three favorite restaurants that I have ever eaten at EVER. It is soooo so so so soooooooo SO good.
The point of the restaurant is the fusion between burgers and sushi – hence the name…Cowfish.
So aaaanyway, there is this one burgushi (their sushi/burger combo rolls) called the Taste Explosion that has this cilantro cashew pesto spread over the top. And it is pretty much the best part of the roll – we always ask for extra.
So I decided to recreate this delicious pesto for the blog!
It’s a super easy recipe and tastes just like the real stuff.
I may or may not have eaten several spoon fulls.
And by several I mean 8.
Don’t worry – when you make this and have 8 spoon fulls I won’t judge you either ;).
This pesto is so bright and fresh! I was skeptical that it would be WAY overpowering with all the cilantro, but surprisingly that flavor is pretty mellow. You taste cilantro but you definitely don’t just taste cilantro. It’s the perfect balance of flavors!
Did I mention how easy this is? Yes. I did. But I am going to mention it again.
All you do is throw some stuff in the food processor and vrrmmmm (my food processor noise…) – it’s all done!
And theeennn……..
Pesto!
You’ll love it, I promise.
On a completely non-pesto-related note, Seth and I got the house!
We were so excited! It’s definitely a teeny tiny baby house, but we’re fine with that. We are just so grateful to actually have a place of our own! And a yard for little Boonie.
We are officially leaving Georgia on June 9th.
Have I started packing yet? No. No I have not. Shhh……..
Instead I’ve been distracting myself with this delicious, gorgeous pesto :).
By the way, I recreated the Taste Explosion roll that I mentioned earlier (the roll at Cowfish that is the base for this yummy pesto) and will be posting it in the next few days. Restaurant copy cats are so fun!
- 1 cup packed cilantro leaves (about two bunches)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (about one lemon)
- ½ cup cashews
- 1 clove garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼-1/2 cup water
- Salt to taste
- Add the cilantro, lemon juice, cashews, and garlic into the food processor
- Turn on the food processor and drizzle in the olive oil and then the water
- Start with ¼ cup of water. If you want the pesto thinner, add more water until you have achieved the consistency you prefer
- Season with salt and pulse a few more times to combine
- Taste and add any extra seasoning!
*Gluten free and vegan*
If you make this or any of my other recipes, be sure to Instagram it and hashtag #thegarlicdiaries!
In the mood for more yummy condiments? Check these out!
I just made this pesto for a gluten free pasta dinner and it was so unbelievable amazing!!!! I took another comment user’s advice and added some nutritional yeast. It had the perfect cheesy taste, with a bit of cilantro and some nutty feel. Definitely recommend everyone to try this recipe…super easy in the food processor too! Thanks for a great pesto :)
Yay! SO glad you liked it Kendra!!
Made this for a sauce over some air fried tofu Very tasty Thanks!
That sounds like a delicious use! So glad you liked it!
I made it! good stuff. I used sriracha flavoured cashews and extra garlic
Yum! So glad you liked it!
Yum! Used this as a pizza sauce on a low carb crust with mozzarella cheese and chicken, coated in the pesto too. Make-again good!!!
Ohhh, good idea! Sounds delish :). So glad you liked it!
This looks and sounds amazing! How long does it last if you store it in the fridge?
I’ve made this pesto a few times now and I really like it! I love finding fun ways to work cilantro into dishes, and this is an amazing option for that. I like to add about a tablespoon of nutritional yeast to bring the flavor up another notch.
Thanks for the great recipe!
I’m so glad you liked it, Danielle!!
Oooh I need to make this! I’ve been loving cashews lately, and I haven’t made pesto in awhile.
Best of luck with your move, and congrats on the house!!! :)
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness recently posted…20 Interesting Health Magazine Stats
You do need to make it, Nicole! The cashews are so yummy in it!
Congratulations on the house!! This pesto looks delicious! I love how vibrant the colors are. I recently made these awesome Greek meatballs (which I’ll be sharing next week on the blog), but this pesto would be perfect to dip them in! Can’t wait to hear more about the house!
Alison recently posted…Summer White
Thanks, Alison! This would be a perfect dip for the meatballs :). You should try it!
Annie, this is so creative! Even if it’s a restaurant copy cat! I have totally been to Cowfish, but haven’t tried this pesto burger. CONGRATULATIONS on getting the house!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks recently posted…CONTEST – Name this Cocktail
Thanks, Rachelle! Yeeesss a fellow Cowfish-er!! You need to get it next time you go. Or the Marx roll. That’s a sushi roll and probably the best I’ve ever had anywhere.
Delicious! And such a pretty color!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely recently posted…Mahi Mahi with Chili Lime Butter
Thanks, Natalie! Beautiful color – it was fun to photograph!
Glorious! I love the name of that restaurant, too.
lynn @ the actor’s diet recently posted…Pulling Mussels with Rachelle
I know! It’s weird name but it’s funny!
This looks really nice Annie! The cilantro is kinda a cool mixup on pesto!
Shelby @ Go Eat and Repeat recently posted…Black Forest Trifles
Thanks, Shelby!
I am a huge pesto fan but I’ve never made it with cashews! Love this idea!!
I hadn’t either, Annie – but it is delicious!
I would most definitely eat this with a spoon, too!! Is pesto soup a thing?? Yum!
Sues recently posted…Brownie Coffee Ice Cream
Haha we will make it a thing!!
I’m a big fan of pesto in general, but I don’t think I am experimental enough with it. Someone suggested pistachio pesto to me today, so that and your recipe is next on my pesto list.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Friday Favourites: Anniversary, Sleeping, Gadgets and Food by Dannii
I don’t experiment enough with it either – this is actually my first go at a non basil based pesto. But they are so fun and easy to experiment with! I definitely plan on doing more of it in the future.
I’m a total pesto fanatic, so this looks incredible! I’ve never had one made with cilantro before, so I bet this is so delicious!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…20+ Strawberry Recipes
Me too, Gayle! You need to try it!!
I want to go to this restaurant that combines two of my favorite things immediately! A weird name, but now I get it :) This pesto looks awesome. Anything with cilantro is fine by me. Congrats on the new house! So Exciting!
Caitlin @ teaspoon recently posted…Berry Avocado Smoothie Bowl
I know! It’s so awesome! It is a super weird name haha, but it makes sense. Thanks, Caitlin!
Yay, congrats on getting the house! So exciting!
This pesto looks amazing! I can’t get enough of homemade pesto during the summer with my garden basil but I’m loving this cilantro and cashew combo! I can’t wait to try this!
Thanks, Kelly! I think you’ll love it :).
That restaurant sounds so fun! This pesto looks so pretty and fresh – I so wish I liked cilantro. I’m not giving up, though so maybe this pesto will convince my taste buds that I like cilantro! Congrats on the house and good luck with moving! There’s a pretty big chance we will be moving next month and I’m already dreading the thought of packing and unpacking.
Keri @ Fashionable Foods recently posted…Almond and Apple Chicken Salad
It is such a fun restaurant! I would recommend this recipe to a cilantro hater for sure – there are so many other flavors going on in there and the cilantro is pretty mild! Ugh…packing. At least unpacking is satisfying because you are setting up your new home. But the packing and moving is the worst! Good luck to you too, Keri!!
Annie, this pesto looks so delicious! Perfect for a lite pasta dinner! loving it!
Savita @ ChefDeHome recently posted…By ChefDeHome- Coconut Lemonade Sorbet
Thanks, Savita!!