Vegan Pesto Pasta with Charred Broccoli & Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

Pesto:

• 1/2 cup packed fresh basil
• 1.5 cups spinach , or baby kale, chard or cilantro or more basil
• 2 tbsp sunflower seeds
• 2 tbsp pecans, or use almonds, cashews, more sunflower seeds, hemp seeds
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast , optional
• zest of half a lemon , or use lemon juice to taste
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• Water as needed
• black pepper, red pepper flakes or other flavor additions

Pasta:

• 12 to 14 oz ziti or other pasta, gluten-free if needed
• 1 cup or more grape or cherry tomatoes
• 1 bunch broccoli
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp oil
• 2 cloves of minced garlic or 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp salt