Hey Love Bees! 🐝
This time last week, I was out running in my very first 10k race, to raise money for Animal Free Research UK!
It was an exhilarating, emotional and challenging experience, and by the end of it, I was shattered!
When I arrived home afterwards, I relaxed in a hot, steamy Epsom salt bath, before throwing on my cosiest pyjamas, and settling down with a huge bowl of comforting pesto pasta!
Today, I’m sharing my easy vegan recipe for this delicious, healthy and indulgent ‘post-run’ pasta!
This tasty, carb-rich dish is packed with energy and immune boosting greens, which are full of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
This meal is especially high in B-vitamins, Folate and vitamins A, C and K. It’s also a great source of healthy protein and fats. This makes it ideal for fuelling and supporting the body, both before and after any demanding physical, or mental activity.
As I’m severely gluten intolerant, I used a gluten-free corn pasta for this recipe, however, if you’re able to eat wheat and gluten, then I’d highly suggest using a wholewheat pasta instead. This is because it contains more fibre, digests more slowly, and will keep you feeling fuller for longer!
This filling, healthy and 100% vegan pasta dish will warm you through on a chilly day, and is perfect for sharing with friends!
I hope you enjoy! 💕
- 3 Cups Cooked Penne Pasta
- 2 Cups Fresh Spinach (Tightly Packed)
- 1/2 Cup B12 Fortified Nutritional Yeast
- 80g Sliced Mushrooms
- 60g Diced Courgette (Zucchini)
- 60g Diced Red Pepper
- 60g Diced Red Onion
- 40g Shredded Nero Kale
- 3 Tbsp Hemp Milk
- 2 Tbsp Pine Nuts
- 5 Tsp Lemon Juice
- 1 Tsp Garlic Granules
- 1 Tsp Onion Granules
- 1 Tsp Dried Basil
- 1/8 Tsp Salt
- Boil Approximately 200g of dry penne pasta (enough to make 3 cups of cooked pasta)
- While the pasta is cooking, place the sliced mushrooms, diced courgette, red pepper, red onion and shredded kale into a steamer and steam for 6-8 minutes, until tender.
- It's time to make the pesto! In a food processor, place the spinach, nutritional yeast, hemp milk, pine nuts, lemon juice, garlic granules, onion granules, dried basil and salt. Blend until smooth.
- When the pasta is cooked, strain it and place 3 cups of cooked penne pasta into a large bowl.
- Add the steamed vegetables and pesto into the bowl and stir well.
- Serve and enjoy! (Makes 2-3 portions, depending on your appetite!)
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I love pasta dishes this looks so delicous and filling.
Pasta is our go to dish and I am always looking for new recipes. This sounds perfect.
Oh now this sounds right up my street, I do love a pasta dish and kale is something I am really into as well.
This sounds great. Think I will try making this myself as i enjoy pasta
Aw, thank you! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! <3 xxx
Hooray for a vegan pesto recipe! This looks really delicious!
That pasta dish does look warm and tasty….how does it handle as a leftover? Is it good cold as well??? Congrats on your run as well!!
Aw, thank you so much! 🙂 Yep! It’s actually SO good cold – I sometimes pop some in a box for lunch when I’m going out! <3 I've found it heats up nicely in the oven too (I don't have a microwave, but I'm sure microwaving it would work as well!) xxx
I love pasta and recently I just ate a pesto pasta after work and been checking out some recipe of it. Glad I find this one. I am excited to try it on my own over the weekend.
Woohoo! I hope you enjoy it and have a fantastic weekend! <3 xxx
I am not a big pasta fan but my kids love it. This looks delcious
I love pesto pasta. Going to give this a try.
Yay! I hope you enjoy! <3 xx
I love pesto pasta so I might have to give this a try as I bet the nuts give it a nice crunch x
We love to use our own pesto in this house – Once you have gone homemade, jars are never the same. We are slowly getting the girls to trust kale!
Ohh! I know what you mean! 🙂 I started making homemade as the shop-bought ones contain so much oil – Now, I’ll never go back! <3 xxx
This looks so delicious (and healthy) absolutely love pasta pesto so will give this a go for my next lunch prep!
Not had lunch yet, as been a busy one, but this has deffo got my taste buds going – love the fact that it is vegan too 🙂 x
Pasta is the best thing to eat after a long run, it’s a great way to restore energy. The pine nut pesto sounds interesting as it can give an added crunch and texture x
Yes! <3 It was exactly what I needed after my run! 🙂 xx
Aw congratulations on your run and I love that you raised money for a good cause. I love the sound of the pine nut pesto pasta as well x
Thank you so much! <3 xx
This looks delicious and kale is so so good for you!
This pasta dish looks super tasty and filling and a real tummy warmer will be adding it to my list to try
Yep, it’s great for chilly Autumn days! I really hope you enjoy! <3 xxx
Kale pesto is our favourite way to enjoy Pesto. It’s an easy way to get more veggies in your diet.
This looks so good! I love the combination of pesto and pine nuts – also feta too 🙂
Yum!! That sounds and looks delicious, I am a massive kale fan so this is right up my street.
That looks absolutely delish, will keep this in mind in case I’ll use this recipe in the future. I love finding food recipes that are vegan so I could cook delicious food that my vegan friends would enjoy.
Yay! I really hope you and your friends enjoy it! <3 xxx
I’ve been looking to eat more kale so this is a great recipe for me. It sounds yummy. Hoping to get the kids to try it too.
Yay! I’ve been trying to eat more kale lately too! 🙂 I really hope you and your family enjoy it! xxx
This looks delicious but sadly due to a nut allergy I can’t eat pesto which is sad because it always looks so good
Aw, that’s such a shame! Nut allergies are brutal! 🙁 Are you able to eat soy? If so, you could omit the nuts and add 1/4 cup or so, of firm tofu in instead xxx
Congrats on the 10k lovely, don’t blame you for wanting to chill when you got home. This pasta looks like such amazing comfort food. Will have to try this out soon 🙂 x
Aw, thank you so much! Yes, crashing on the couch with a big bowl of pasta was just what I needed! 😀 I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! <3 xxx
this looks lovely – I’ve not had pesto for ages in pasta!
I love pesto and currently I am in Italy, trying out all sorts of freshly made pesto from the market. My favorite is the walnuts one. But still, the classic pesto is delicious, especially when you make it yourself.
Oh wow! I bet all that authentic Italian Pesto is SO incredible!! Walnut pesto sounds really delicious! <3 xxx
I love pesto pasta and this recipe sound fantastic because of all the extra ingredients you have added!
This would be great for kids as well, as a sneaky way to get some greens in them!
Haha! Yes, absolutely! 🙂 xxx
I have been searching for new vegan recipes and this one looks delicious! It ticks the comfort food box, for sure! xx
Confession time. I’ve never eaten pesto! *gasp* This looks delicious though!
Ooh! You’re in for a treat! 😉 It’s super yummy with pasta, and it’s great for basting on roast potatoes and Mediterranean roasted veggies as well! xxx
I love pine nuts and pesto in pasta, so yummy!! Will have to make this soon 🙂
Yay! Me too! 🙂 I hope you enjoy! <3 xxx
Oh my gosh I love pine nuts and pesto. Such a great combo!!