Green Pasta Sauce Recipe

User Reviews

5.0

15 reviews
Excellent

Green Pasta Sauce Recipe

This Green Pasta Sauce is a nutritious, lighter alternative to pesto that you can make in under 30 minutes. Packed with nutty parmesan cheese, vibrant spinach, and hints of lemon and garlic, this sauce is the perfect accompaniment to your favorite type of pasta. Enjoy this pasta dish alone as a light lunch or dinner, or serve it as a side to a number of main dishes.

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 1 pound Spaghetti linguine, or any other pasta shape you have on hand
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 10 oz. fresh baby spinach leaves
  • ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese plus more for garnish - 50 gr.
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest optional
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Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta: Fill a large pot with water and add a few tablespoons of salt. Bring to a boil, add pasta and cook until al dente, following the package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain the rest. Return the pasta to the pot and set it aside.
  2. Saute the garlic: Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
  3. Add the spinach: Add the spinach leaves, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Cook, tossing often until the spinach is wilted and has lost most of its volume.
  4. Transfer to a food processor: Transfer the now-cooked spinach to the bowl of a food processor*. Add in the parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and the reserved pasta water.
  5. Blend: Process until fully pureed, stopping and scraping the sides as necessary. Give it a taste and add more seasoning, if desired.
  6. Combine with the pasta: Pour the spinach pasta sauce over the cooked pasta, and use tongs to give it a gentle toss to combine.
  7. Serve: Serve warm with extra parmesan cheese on top and lemon zest, if preferred.

Notes

  • We wanted a green pasta sauce that is more on the healthier side, but if you are after an extra rich, creamy pasta,
  • you can
  • add two ounces of room-temperature cream cheese (or ricotta cheese) into the food processor with the rest of the ingredients.
  • You can make this green spinach pasta sauce up to two days in advance as part of your meal prep. If you’d like to make the sauce before cooking your pasta, you can substitute vegetable stock or water for the pasta water used in the recipe. Be sure to keep it in the fridge in an airtight container.
  • To store, let it come to room temperature before placing it in an airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days.
  • Reheat it on the stovetop over low heat until warm. You can also reheat it in the microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval until warm. For both methods, you may need to add a little water to keep the sauce from drying out. 
  • Food processor: If you do not have a food processor, you can use a blender.
  • Cream cheese: We wanted a green pasta sauce that is more on the healthier side, but if you are after an extra rich, creamy pasta, you can add two ounces of room-temperature cream cheese (or ricotta cheese) into the food processor with the rest of the ingredients.
  • Make ahead: You can make this green spinach pasta sauce up to two days in advance as part of your meal prep. If you’d like to make the sauce before cooking your pasta, you can substitute vegetable stock or water for the pasta water used in the recipe. Be sure to keep it in the fridge in an airtight container.
  • Store: To store, let it come to room temperature before placing it in an airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days.
  • Reheat: Reheat it on the stovetop over low heat until warm. You can also reheat it in the microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval until warm. For both methods, you may need to add a little water to keep the sauce from drying out. 
  • Food processor: If you do not have a food processor, you can use a blender.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 557kcal (28%) Carbohydrates 90g (30%) Protein 21g (42%) Fat 13g (20%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 6g Cholesterol 11mg (4%) Sodium 573mg (24%) Potassium 692mg (20%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 6756IU (135%) Vitamin C 24mg (27%) Calcium 211mg (21%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 557 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 557kcal 28%
Carbohydrates 90g 30%
Protein 21g 42%
Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Sodium 573mg 24%
Potassium 692mg 15%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 6756IU 135%
Vitamin C 24mg 27%
Calcium 211mg 21%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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5.0

15 reviews
Excellent

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