Springtime Pesto Pasta
This springtime veggie pesto pasta transforms fresh spring vegetables into a vibrant, deeply flavorful green pesto that will become the star of your weeknight meals. Roasting coaxes out the nutty sweetness of the cauliflower and broccoli, while the peppery arugula, spinach, and fresh lemon offer a fresh, zesty contrast. Toss with freshly cooked pasta and serve with extra veggies, nutritional yeast, hemp hearts, and red pepper flakes for a meal that is as nourishing as it is delicious.
Ingredients
*For Roasted Veg
- 1 head broccoli in florets
- ½ head cauliflower in florets
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 pinch salt
- 1 head garlic split in half widthwise, exposing the cloves
- 12-15 cherry tomatoes preferably on vine
*For Pesto:
- 1 cup arugula
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 ½ cup roasted cauliflower
- 1 cup roasted broccoli
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- ¼ cup hemp hearts
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 lemon juiced
- ¼ cup water
- 1 head roasted garlic
Pasta
- 1 pound dry pasta shape of choice
Garnish
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper optional
- 1 tsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp hemp hearts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400
- Place broccoli, cauliflower and bell pepper on a sheet pan. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt. Roast for 20 minutes, turning once halfway.
- Add garlic and cherry tomatoes to a sheet pan and drizzle with oil and salt. Roast for 20 minutes until soft.
- Once veggies are cooked make the pesto with hidden veggies! Add arugula, spinach, roasted cauliflower and broccoli, nutritional yeast, hemp hearts, salt, lemon, water and roasted garlic to a blender. Puree until smooth
- Cook pasta and add the pesto to hot and steaming pasta with the chopped peppers, roasted tomatoes and roasted veggies that did not go into the pesto.
- Garnish if desired with crushed red pepper, nutritional yeast and hemp hearts and serve.
- After cooling, wrap leftovers tightly and enjoy for up to 4 days.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, either warm in a skillet with an extra splash of water to loosen the sauce or microwave for several minutes until piping hot.
Nutrition
Calories: 630kcalCarbohydrates: 90gProtein: 24gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gSodium: 115mgPotassium: 1150mgFiber: 11gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 2541IUVitamin C: 206mgCalcium: 148mgIron: 5mg
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