Recipe: Hidden Veggie Pesto by Jennah Jensen

Pasta is a great way to sneak in extra vegetables for apprehensive eaters! While you can do this with any pasta recipe, pesto is particularly good for disguising green veggies. Think broccoli, zucchini, spinach, etc.! I try to finely mince up the veggies so that they blend in as much as possible. As with any recipe, I like to think of the ingredients list as a framework but feel free to experiment or use what you have on hand. At the end of the day it’s about keeping things simple, stress free and incorporating health while doing so! I hope you enjoy this sneaky dish as much as we do!

Ingredients:

For the Pesto Sauce:

• 2 packed cups fresh basil leaves

• 3/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts, toasted

• 1/2 cup nutritional yeast

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 2.5 tablespoons lemon juice

• 3-4 large garlic cloves

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon pepper .

Alternatively you can use 1-2 jars of store bought pesto of choice

For the Pasta:

• 1 package pasta

• 1.5 cups zucchini, minced

• 1.5 cups broccoli, minced

Method:

• To kick this recipe off, start by toasting your pine nuts or walnuts on low-medium heat, stirring constantly until golden brown. This step is optional but it doesn’t require much time and it really brings out the flavors, taking it to the next level! If using walnuts, give them a rough chop before toasting.

• Next add all of the pesto sauce ingredients except for the olive oil into a food processor. Start the food processor then add in the oil while it’s running, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides. Continue to process until smooth then set aside until pasta is ready.

• Finely mince up the veggies you would like to hide into the pasta and sauté them on medium meat until tender. Set aside.

• Boil the pasta according to package instructions. Drain but do not rinse.

• Lastly combine everything together, taste test and add a sprinkle of salt if necessary. Serve and enjoy!

Jennah Jensen is a vegan, blogger and recipe extraordinaire! You can follow along her adventures, find her recipes and be inspired by her musings here and follow along on Instagram @jennahjensen