
Kalle Bergman is a food writer and media entrepreneur who…
Give a bowl of pasta a nutty, herbaceous kick with a generous dollop of tangy Cilantro Walnut Pesto from Mollie Katzen.
By Kalle Bergman
Cookbook author Mollie Katzen, who has a new book out titled, The Heart of the Plate: Vegetarian Recipes for a New Generation gives a bowl of cavatappi pasta a nutty, herbaceous kick with a generous dollop of tangy Cilantro Walnut Pesto. This lighter version of the iconic Italian staple breathes new life into soups, grains and pastas and sets the perfect tone for spring to come.
- 8 ounces pasta (fusilli or cavatappi)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup Cilantro-Walnut Pesto (recipe follows)
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar, or to taste
- 1 small red bell pepper, brunoise or very small dice
- 8-10 snow peas, trimmed and halved diagonally
- Optional: additional minced vegetables: minced carrot, cucumber, and/or fennel
- 4 to 6 ounces fresh mozzarella – in small dice
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 cup walnut halves
- ½ teaspoon minced or crushed garlic
- 1 cup firmly packed cilantro (leaves and smaller stems)
- Scant ½ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Minced fresh cilantro
- Halved cherry tomatoes
- Chopped walnuts
- Cook the pasta according the package instructions. Drain, then toss with olive oil, salt, 4 tablespoons of the pesto, and the vinegar. Stir to blend thoroughly, let it cool to room temperature.
- Stir in the vegetables, followed by the mozzarella and black pepper to taste.
- Serve warm or at room temperature – or chill, and serve cold. Top it with additional pesto, if you like, plus any of the other optional toppings.
- Place the walnuts in a blender or the small bowl of a food processor, and grind to a coarse meal.
- Add the garlic, cilantro, and salt, and continue to run the machine until it becomes a uniform green paste (some light walnut texture is fine).
- Run the machine while you drizzle in the oil. Transfer to a container with a tight fitting lid, and refrigerate until use.
Photo courtesy of California Walnut Board

Kalle Bergman is a food writer and media entrepreneur who is the founder of Honest Cooking. As a food writer, his writing has been regularly featured in publications like Gourmet, Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post and Serious Eats. He is obsessed with simple food, more often than not from his native Scandinavia.
If you have this reciepe every now and then, surely you will get rid off High blood pressure and cholesterol problems.