Penne with Creamy Cashew and Spinach Pesto Sauce
Penne with Creamy Cashew and Spinach Pesto sauce is an easy, delicious, nutritious plant-based meal that's perfect for a weeknight yet elegant enough for guests! Plus a great tip to make pesto oil-free!
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 2 cups cashews raw or roasted, divided
- Water for soaking cashews
- 1 container (5-ounce) baby spinach
- 3/4 cup vegetable broth
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 pound penne pasta
Instructions
- Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add 1 cup cashews, turn the heat off and let stand for 30-45 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the soaking water then drain cashews.
- Place soaked cashews in a blender or mini food processor. Add 1-2 tablespoons of the soaking water. Puree the cashews until very smooth, adding small amounts of water as necessary until you have a creamy consistency.
- Transfer cashew cream to a bowl.
- Place 1/2 cup cashews, spinach, vegetable broth and garlic in the blender or in a food processor. Process to a paste consistency.
- Add cashew cream to pesto and process until combined.
- Coarsely chop remaining 1/2 cup cashews.
- Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Add salt if desired.
- Stir in penne pasta. Reduce heat to medium-high (this minimizes foaming). Cook for 11-13 minutes or package directions, stirring occasionally.
- Drain. Add pesto sauce and stir to coat the pasta.
- Serve in bowls, garnished with chopped cashews.
Notes
Alternately, soak cashews in hot tap water for 2 hours or in room temperature water overnight.
To make this pesto or any pesto oil-free, substitute vegetable broth for the oil. Vegetable broth adds flavor without the fat and calories of oil.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 241kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 124mg | Potassium: 286mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 103IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 3mg