Coriander Peanut Pesto

This is an Asian version of the more familiar Italian basil pesto, fired up with a touch of chilli and some aromatic herbs. Its flavour is redolent of the Orient, with a fresh, heady zing on the palate. Spoon it over hot noodles or pasta, serve it as a condiment with won tons or dumplings or stir it into soups. Like its Italian cousin, this pesto has maximum flavour impact when fresh, so it is best made when there is an abundance of fresh herbs available. Be sure that the peanuts you use are as fresh as possible - taste them in their raw state to double-check - because rancid nuts are not pleasant on the palate. Do not substitute Italian basil pesto in the following recipes; they are specifically designed to partner coriander peanut pesto.