Cilantro Pesto

1/3 cup walnuts or pine nuts 
1-2 cloves garlic, to taste 
1 large bunch cilantro, roots and larger stems trimmed, washed and thoroughly dried
Squeeze of ½ lime
¼-1/2 cup olive oil 
¼ cup freshly grated Parmigiano (optional if you want to make this vegan)
Salt and pepper to taste

Place nuts and garlic in the bowl of a food processor and process until finely chopped. Add cilantro and lime, and pulverize. If using arugula, add now, and process until you’ve got a coarse-looking puree. Add oil, going gradually; stop machine and taste for herb/oil ratio. Add more if it feels “dry.”

Scrape down sides of bowl as needed, and transfer pesto to a small mixing bowl. Fold in cheese, if using, and season with salt & pepper. Makes about 1 cup, maybe more.

Source: Washington Post, 6/15/09

HALLOUMI CHEESE WITH LIME AND CAPER VINAIGRETTE

12 oz Halloumi Cheese*
2 tbsp flour, seasoned with salt and pepper
2 tbsp olive oil

For the dressing:
Juice and zest of 1 lime
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 1/2 tbsp capers, drained
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp grain mustard
1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
salt and freshly-ground black pepper
To garnish: Fresh sprigs of cilantro

*Halloumi is available at Whole Foods Market and other specialty foods stores. 

First of all, pat the Cheese dry with paper towels. Then, using a sharp knife, slice it into eight slices, including the ends. Now dredge in seasoned flour. Prepare the dressing by simply beating all the ingredients together in a small mixing bowl. When you're ready to serve the Halloumi, heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. When the oil is really hot add Cheese to the hot skillet—they take 1 minute on each side to cook, so by the time the last one's in, it will almost be time to turn the first one over. They need to be a good golden color on each side. Serve them on warmed plates with the dressing poured over and garnished with the cilantro sprigs.

SALSA RANCHERA

1 medium white onion, quartered
3 lb ripe medium tomatoes, cored
1/2 cup olive oil
1 fresh serrano chile, chopped, including seeds
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar 
Accompaniment: corn tortilla chips 

Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange 2 onion quarters and 2 pounds tomatoes in a small roasting pan and drizzle with 1/4 cup oil. Arrange remaining 1 pound tomatoes in a small baking pan and drizzle with remaining 1/4 cup oil. Bake both pans of tomatoes in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of pans after 45 minutes, until browned, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove roasting pan and continue baking small pan of tomatoes until blackened, about 30 minutes more. Transfer all roasted tomatoes (do not peel) and onions with a slotted spoon to a food processor, discarding liquid in pans. If your processor is small, do this in 2 batches. Pulse until coarsely chopped. (Alternatively, you can chop with an immersion blender in a deep container.) Chop remaining 2 onion quarters and stir together with tomato mixture, serrano, cilantro, and vinegar. Season with salt and chill, covered, at least 8 hours to blend flavors. Bring to room temperature before serving.

ZUCCHINI and CILANTRO SOUP WITH MINT

3 zucchini
1 bunch cilantro
1 onion
3 tbsp. olive oil
3 tbsp. chopped parsley
2 tbsp. chopped mint
sea salt 
5 cups water or broth
juice of 1 lime
sour cream

Chop the zucchini into 1/2 inch pieces. Wash cilantro leaves and stems. Finely slice the stems and chop the leaves. Slice the onion thinly. Heat oil in a soup pot and add onion, zucchini, cilantro stems, parsley and mint. Cook until onion and zucchini is fairly soft- about 10 minutes. Add 2 tsp. salt and the water or stock and bring to a boil. Simmer until zucchini is completely soft, about 15 minutes. Add the remaining cilantro and let cool. Puree until smooth and season with salt & lime juice to taste. Serve room temperature or gently heated with a dollop of sour cream and a sprig of cilantro in each bowl.