Cilantro Noodle Bowl With Cilantro Pesto Recipes

RICE NOODLES WITH CILANTRO PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of generously salted water to a boil. Combine cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 teaspoons salt, and pepper to taste in the bowl of a food processor, and puree. Remove from the food processor, transfer to a small bowl, and set cilantro pesto aside.
• Melt remaining teaspoon butter in a small saute pan over medium-high heat. Add pine nuts; cook, tossing until golden brown, about 1 minute. Sprinkle with salt, and transfer to a paper towel to drain. Set aside.
• Cook noodles until al dente, about 2 minutes. Drain in a colander. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the cilantro pesto; toss, and garnish with pine nuts.

CILANTRO NOODLE BOWL

Steps:

• Cook the soba in a big pot of rapidly boiling salted water just until tender - but about 20 seconds before the pasta is done cooking add the broccoli to the pot. You want it to barely cook.
• Drain and rinse under cold running water. Sprinkle with lemon zest and set aside.
• In the meantime make the dressing by combining the cilantro, garlic, cayenne or red pepper flakes, salt, and olive oil. Blend in a food processor or chop by hand. Taste, adjust for more salt if needed and set aside.
• Drain the tofu, pat it dry, and cut it into rectangles roughly the size of your thumb (1/2 inch thick and 1 inch long). Cook the tofu in a dry nonstick (or well-seasoned) skillet over medium-high heat for a few minutes, until the pieces are browned on one side.
• Toss gently once or twice, then continue cooking for another minute or so, until the tofu is firm, golden, and bouncy.
• Remove from skillet, let cool a bit and if desired cut into matchsticks.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the soba, broccoli and a couple big splashes of the cilantro dressing. Toss until well combined. Add the tofu and gently toss again, add more dressing and a couple pinches of salt if needed.
• Turn out onto platter and crown with a couple pinches of cayenne and a squeeze of lemon juice.