I’m always looking for way to incorporate more vegetables into my daughter’s meals. This Green Pesto Pasta is packed full of veggies and absolutely delicious for the whole family! It’s gluten-free, dairy-free and only takes 20 minutes to make.
How to Make Pesto Pasta Sauce
I’ve always been a huge fan of pesto sauce. This homemade pesto is rich and flavorful like you’d expect from a traditional pesto sauce. You would never know veggies are blended right in! It’s an easy and delicious way to eat more vegetables. You combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender until creamy.
Ingredients:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Basil
- Spinach
- Kale
- Cashews. Pine nuts are classic in pesto recipes but you can use whatever you have on hand. This recipe uses cashews making the sauce creamy. For nut allergies you can skip adding nuts. The flavor is still wonderful!
- Cheese. I use vegan parmesan cheese in this recipe, as well as nutritional yeast.
- Garlic
- Lemon Juice
Pasta Noodles
I use a Fusilli brown rice pasta in this recipe, but you can use any pasta you like! I recently started eating less gluten and was pleasantly surprised that I actually prefer brown rice pasta over regular. If you haven’t, I highly recommend giving it a try. You won’t be disappointed! The texture is softer and flavor is so satisfying. My favorite gluten-free pasta brand is an Italian company Jovial. Additionally, Whole Foods and Trader Joes have a few brown rice and quinoa pastas we love.
This Green Pesto Pasta is Parent and Kid Approved
- Hidden Veggies. Packed with spinach and kale your kids won’t notice!
- Easy to make! This meal can be made in 30 minutes.
- Leftovers. You can make this pesto pasta sauce ahead and use throughout the week. This pesto sauce is also great for cold pasta salad with tomatoes and chickpeas mixed in!
- Satisfying. Perfect balance of carbohydrates, protein, veggies. Nutrient dense!
Once the pasta is cooked al dente top with the warm pesto. I mix in steamed peas and broccoli, but you can leave these out for picky eaters. : ) Lastly, top with your favorite Parmesan or mozzarella. My favorites are Follow Your Heart vegan Parmesan or Parmela Creamery vegan mozzarella. Pesto sauce is versatile and can be adjusted to your liking! Feel free to add more or less of the ingredients as you like. Enjoy!
Kid Approved Green Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 pound Fusilli Brown Rice Pasta (or pasta of choice)
- Pinch of Salt
Pesto Sauce
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cups spinach
- 1 cup fresh basil
- 1 cup kale
- 1/4 cup vegan parmesan you can also use 2 extra tbsp nutritional yeast instead of vegan parmesan
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/4 cup unsalted cashews
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp purified water add to thin sauce, if needed
Toppings
- steamed peas
- steamed broccoli
- vegan parmesan or mozzarella
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions or until al dente. Remove pot from heat, drain and return to pot.
- Steam frozen peas and broccoli on the stovetop.
- While the pasta is cooking make the pesto sauce. Add pesto ingredients into the food processor (or blender) and blend until combined.
- Pour the pesto sauce over the pasta and mix. Add pasta to bowls and top portions with peas, broccoli and extra parmesan or mozzarella cheese.
- Enjoy!
