Be warned that this is another recipe which involves butternut squash noodles! I am a bit obsessed. Today I am serving them with clean green pesto for which I used spinach instead of traditional basil and sunflower seeds instead of pine nuts. Why? Because I can and because that's what I could find in the cupboards. It was meant to happen because I actually like this clean green pesto recipe more than the usual traditional version.
What has been happening in your world ? With January coming to an end (already) I am surprised how much stuff I have managed to do. This evening I am off with my favourite foodie friend Lottie , who blogs and does amazing food reviews at Lottie Loves food, for a fancy supper at the Vanilla Black restaurant. I have heard so much about it and have been drooling over their menu for ages, so excitement levels are high.
Clean green pesto recipe
Now back to this clean green pesto recipe and those amazing butternut squash noodles. You can make your own ones using a spiralizer or cheat like me and pop in to your local Marks and Spencer. Don't worry if you can't find them, you could always use courgette penne (I have amazing courgette penne recipe here) or traditional brown pasta. As with all my recipes this doesn't take long and even the complete kitchen virgin will manage to re-create this dish easily. You just need a good blender or food processor.
Recipe
Clean green pesto recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups baby spinach (if you want traditional pesto use fresh basil)
- ⅓ cup sunflower seeds (toasted are the best) or any other nuts or seeds
- 2-3 cloves garlic, crushed (all depends on how strong you want the pesto to be, but I used 3 smaller cloves)
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast for all the vegans out there
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start with the spinach and sunflower seeds by placing them in your food processor and pulse a few times
- Next add the garlic and pulse again. Make sure you scrape off all the goodness from the sides of the food processor.
- Time to add the parmesan or nutritional yeast.
- Now start slowly adding the olive oil in while the processor is running
- Add salt and freshly ground black pepper, taste and adjust the seasoning until the taste is just right.
- The pesto should have an oozy consistency
- All is left is to toss with the pasta and top up with some extra cheese, or maybe a few slices of red pepper and enjoy
This clean green pesto is bursting with flavour and tastes amazing on a grilled slice of my homemade bread. If you want to become a pesto pro read this amazing article
I hope you enjoy this recipe and while you're here don't forget to check my clean eating red pesto or Brussel sprout pesto!
Much love,
Hedi
The Food Hunter
that pesto sounds wonderful I need to eat more butternut squash
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Love pesto! Such a great way to add flavor!
Linda @ Veganosity
Squash and pesto, what a great combination of clean food. Love it!
Jenn
Yum! I can't do pine nuts - they leave a crazy pine flavor in my mouth for days! I usually add pumpkin seeds to my pesto instead, but your version sounds wonderful too! And butternut squash noodles....had NO idea those were a thing! Need to try!!
Sophia @veggies dont bite
Yum! I love it! Pesto is a staple around here. I keep it in the freezer and pull it out for pasta, sandwiches, a dip. My kids love it and it's such a good way to get in greens!
Ginny McMeans
What an inventive recipe. It sounds delicious!
The Vegan 8
Love pestos! I make them all the time! I make some with peas, kale, spinach and lots of garlic, lol! Looks awesome Hedi!
Nicole
We can't do any type of nut in our home and typically use sunflower as well, however, I never used spinach instead of basil. I'll have to try that next time!
yummy mummy kitchen
I have been craving butternut noodles!
Hedi Hearts
They are lovely! I am addicted 🙂 Hedi xx
Tish
Great idea for us vegans to sub nutritional yeast for cheese. Love it.
Hedi Hearts
I love being vegan, never looked back 🙂 Wish my whole family would follow me! 🙂 Hedi xxx
Mel @ avirtualvegan.com
This pesto sounds great and I love that you used butternut squash noodles instead of regular spaghetti. Another use for my spiralizer!
I can't believe that you can actually buy packets of ready made butternut noodles in good old M&S. It's been a few years since I lived in England but there was never anything like that when I was there. I have never seen them here in the shops either. It's great that veggie noodles have become so popular.
Pragati
I made a spinach sunflower seed pesto earlier this year. Also added spinach to it. How cool that you get squash noodles in a packet!
Hedi Hearts
I know! Perfect for a lazy cook like me! 🙂 Hedi xx
Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily
Oh how I love pesto!!great recipe!
Gin
I love how easy and healthy this is! I have to try this with pasta sometime.
Kathy
That's a "pasta" dish you can be super proud of and eat as much as you want. I've never seen packaged veggie noodles before. I'll be keeping an eye out for them.
Sina @ Vegan Heaven
I love pesto! We have it at least once a week! 🙂 What a great recipe!
Cris
This pesto sounds so tasty! Pinned it!!!
Howie Fox
How awesome are these butternut noodles?? Woah, I'm stunned 😀