Recipe: Vegan Cashew Pesto With Whole Grain Pasta
This is a fun spin on traditional Italian pesto using cashews.
This is a fun spin on traditional Italian pesto using cashews. Feel free to swap out cashews for other nuts you may have on hand, such as walnuts or almonds.
Ingredients
- 14 ounces whole wheat pasta, such as shells, penne, or spaghetti
- 1/2 cup cashews
- 4 cups chopped spinach or kale
- 1/2 cup parsley
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, cut in half
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Preparation
Prepare the pasta according to the package instructions, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Set aside.
Place the cashews, spinach or kale, parsley, olive oil, garlic, balsamic, and salt in a blender along with the reserved pasta water. Blend until a chunky pesto forms. Toss with pasta and serve immediately.
Ayurvedic Add-ins
For Vata: Enjoy the recipe as is!
For Pitta: Swap out cashews for pumpkin seeds.
For Kapha: Swap the cashews for 2 garlic cloves and increase oil by 2 tablespoons.
Serves 4
(Serving 2 1/2 cups) 598 calories, 19 g protein, 87 g carbohydrates, 5 g sugars, 23 g fat (3 g saturated), 50 mg cholesterol, 10 g fiber, 353 mg sodium
Jennifer Iserloh, aka the “Skinny Chef,” is a leader in promoting healthy, vibrant lifestyles though a diet of delicious and nutritious easy-to-prepare meals. A classically trained chef, certified yoga teacher, and a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Iserloh is the best-selling author of 50 Shades of Kale and Healthy Cheats, among other books.
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Nutrition Information
- Calories 0
- Carbohydrate Content 0 g
- Cholesterol Content 0 mg
- Fat Content 0 g
- Fiber Content 0 g
- Protein Content 0 g
- Saturated Fat Content 0 g
- Sodium Content 0 mg
- Sugar Content 0 g
- Trans Fat Content 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat Content 0 g