Welcome to Meal Prep Mondays, creating quick and delicious meals for busy families and nannies - this week its quick and delicious vegan pesto pasta brought to us by 'the minimalist baker'.
Quick and delicious Vegan Pesto pasta recipe for busy families and nannies.
Ingredients:
96 grams of packed fresh basil (large stems removed)
25 grams of pine nuts or walnuts (or sunflower seeds for a nut-free option)
9 grams of cloves garlic (peeled)
30 ml of lemon juice
9-12 grams of nutritional yeast
1/4 tsp of sea salt (plus more to taste)
30-45 ml of extra virgin olive oil (or substitute with vegetable broth or more water)
45-70 ml of water (plus more as needed)
Instructions:
Place the basil, nuts (or seeds), garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and sea salt in a food processor or small blender. (You can also add spinach for extra veggies)
Blend or mix on high until you achieve a loose paste consistency.
Gradually add the olive oil while the machine is running (streaming it in if possible) and scrape down the sides as needed. This step helps to emulsify the sauce.
Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of water at a time until you reach the desired consistency. The goal is to have a thick but pourable sauce. If you want to avoid using oil altogether, you can substitute it with vegetable broth or use all water. (If you have added spinach, you will need more water).
Taste the sauce and adjust the flavour to your liking. You can add more nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavour, more salt for overall seasoning, more nuts for nuttiness, more garlic for a stronger taste, or more lemon juice for acidity.
Cook your chosen pasta in boiling water, drain and stir in sauce. Top with fresh basil for extra colour.
This vegan basil pesto sauce can be used in various ways, such as adding it to sauces, dressings, bread, or as a topping for dishes like Courgette or carrot noodles.
Store any leftover pesto in the refrigerator for another day.
Why cooking together is Fantastic:
Children get to have fun and be part of the cooking process.
It's a hands-on learning experience about different food groups and cooking basics.
It makes mealtime an enjoyable and interactive event.
Children are given choice as they get to choose their toppings.
You can freeze any extra for future meals - batch cooking rocks!
In Conclusion:
Let us know if this recipe was a hit in your house! https://www.absolutechildcare.co.uk/contact
Get ready for some empty plates, full tummies, smiles, and a delicious meal that the kids will be proud to have helped create.
Join us again next Monday for more meal prep ideas. Until then, happy cooking!
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