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Pistachio Mint Pesto Pasta with Asparagus (vegan/gf recipe) | seasonal plant-based recipes via The Sweet Miscellany Blog

Pistachio Mint Pesto Pasta with Asparagus


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  • Author: Courtney West
  • Total Time: 27 minutes
  • Yield: 3-4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

Vibrant and full of spring flavors, this pistachio mint pesto pasta with asparagus comes together easily in just under 30 minutes. Pistachios, mint, and parsley form the flavor base of this vegan pesto along with both lemon zest and juice. Tossed with gluten free pasta and topped with roasted asparagus, this pesto pasta is perfect for springtime. 


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/2 cup raw shelled pistachios
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
  • sea salt, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/2 cup mint leaves, packed
  • 1/2 cup parsley leaves, packed
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup + 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 8 oz gluten free pasta, such as penne or fusilli
  • 1 bunch asparagus
  • brassica flowers, optional for garnish

Instructions

Pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees.

To a blender or food processor, add the pistachios, nutritional yeast, a pinch of salt, and the lemon zest. Pulse a few times until the pistachios begin to break down into smaller pieces. Add the mint and parsley and pulse a few more times to begin breaking down the leaves. Scrape down the sides of your processor or blender, then add the lemon juice, maple syrup, and 1/3 cup of the olive oil and pulse until you achieve a thick pesto. Set your pesto aside.

Trim the woody bottoms off your asparagus. Place them on a baking sheet and drizzle them with the remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil and season with a sprinkle of salt. Toss to coat the asparagus in the oil and salt, then spread out the spears out so that they aren’t overlapping one another. Roast in your pre-heated 425 degree oven for about 12-13 minutes until they are tender and beginning to caramelize around the edges. 

While the asparagus is roasting, cook your pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve 1/2 a cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta. Add your cooked pasta to a large bowl along with some of the pesto and a splash of the pasta water. Toss, adding more pesto as needed to suit your taste. Add more pasta water as needed to loosen the pesto and yield a creamier consistency. 

Serve the pasta with a side of the roasted asparagus and garnish with brassica flowers and mint leaves if you like. Enjoy!

Store leftovers in an airtight container and enjoy within 5 days. 

Notes

  • If asparagus isn’t in season where you are, feel free to substitute any veggie you like here such as turnips or radishes. Just make sure to adjust the roasting time!
  • For a slightly quicker version without the use of the oven, substitute 1 to 1 1/2 cups of frozen peas for the asparagus and add them to the pasta during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking time. 
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: main