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Anyone can make Pesto Pasta by buying a jar of pesto from the supermarket, but not everyone knows that pesto sauce is one of the easiest sauces to make.
Prep Time: 15 hours Cook Time: 15min Serves: 4 Servings Level: Beginning
Pesto, the king of green sauces, as I like to name it, is a simple uncooked sauce, traditionally from Italy, made from fresh basil.
For busy weeknights, a jar of pesto in our fridge is always a lifesaver. If you love pesto but use the store-bought version, this homemade version will change your life. It is very tasty, super fresh, and easy to make. Now, It is time to learn how to make your homemade Plant-Based Pesto.
Homemade pesto is one of the best ways to enjoy the great taste of fresh basil. It smells like summer and fresh herbs, can take many dishes to the next level, and is made in only 15 minutes.
I should mention that my pesto recipe today is not only healthy and plant-based, but it is also raw. You may already know that I like to add a touch of raw food into my everyday meals. If you want to find my opinion about raw food in your life, you can read my last post about Raw Vegan Ketchup.
Pesto Health Benefits
My Raw Plant-based Pesto contains healthy natural ingredients: fresh basil, garlic, cashew nuts, olive oil, lemon juice and nutritional yeast. These ingredients give your pesto these health benefits:
1. It is packed in nutrients
Our pesto, being RAW, consists mainly of whole unprocessed foods that contain high nutritional value. The nutrients provide us with energy, contribute to body structure and regulate chemical processes in the body.
2. It can help normalize your blood pressure.
Pesto can also help to normalize your blood pressure. This is because of the mixed cashew nuts and garlic, which help keep your arteries healthy.
3. It is packed with antioxidants.
The ingredients like basil and garlic give our pesto numeros antioxidants. This will help you stay healthy and prevent certain illnesses.
PESTO PASTA RECIPE
Pesto pasta is one of those classic dishes that are easy to make, perfect for customizing, and packed with flavor. It is the kind of dish you return to when you need a fast meal. Even though it takes minutes to cook it, somehow, it always makes me feel like I’m eating a fancy Italian dinner.
This Pesto Pasta is perfect for a weeknight dinner or your kid's lunch box, especially when the time for cooking is short. This easy and delicious dish is lovely all year long.
If you have leftover Raw Vegan Pesto, transfer it into a glass jar and cover the top entirely with olive oil to prevent oxidation. It will last for a month.
RECIPE
Ingredients:
350g pasta
2 cups Basil
½ cup olive oil
⅓ cup cashew nuts
1 clove garlic
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
½ tsp salt
½ tsp lemon juice
Preparation:
Step 1: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, add ½ tbsp of olive oil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
Step2: While the pasta is cooking, we start making the pesto. In a food processor, place the basil—process first for about 2 minutes.
Step 3: Then add the rest of the ingredients, and pulse until blended evenly but still chunky. Transfer into a glass jar.
Step 4: Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water. Add the pesto to the pan, add the pasta, and stir to coat. If the pesto seems too thick, you can add some of the cooking liquid.
Step 5: Divide into plates and garnish with vegan parmesan.
Step 6: Enjoy it!