Dairy-Free Pasta with Pesto and Cheese
Embrace indulgence without dairy in this delightful Dairy-Free Pasta with Pesto and Cheese recipe! Featuring tender dairy-free pasta options like brown rice or chickpea varieties, this dish is coated in a vibrant basil pesto made creamy with nutritional yeast and olive oil, delivering all the rich, herby flavors you crave. Topped with melty dairy-free mozzarella and optionally studded with juicy, halved cherry tomatoes, it’s the perfect blend of comfort and freshness. Ready in just 30 minutes, this vegan-friendly pasta is ideal for weeknight dinners or impressing guests with a wholesome yet elegant meal. Packed with plant-based goodness and customizable to your palate, it’s a dairy-free delight you’ll crave again and again!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz Dairy-free pasta (such as brown rice or chickpea pasta)
- 2 cups Fresh basil leaves
- 0.25 cup Pine nuts
- 2 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
- 0.25 cup Nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 0.33 cup Extra-virgin olive oil
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
- 0.5 cup Dairy-free mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the dairy-free pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water.
While the pasta cooks, prepare the pesto. In a food processor, combine the basil leaves, pine nuts, minced garlic, and nutritional yeast. Pulse until the ingredients are finely chopped.
Add the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper to the food processor. Blend until smooth and well combined. Adjust seasoning according to taste, adding more salt or pepper if needed.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the pesto. Stir to coat the pasta evenly, adding a couple of tablespoons of the reserved pasta water to help the pesto adhere.
Add the dairy-free mozzarella cheese and mix until the cheese starts to melt slightly, integrating with the pesto.
If using, gently fold in the halved cherry tomatoes for a fresh bite.
Serve the pasta warm, garnished with a few fresh basil leaves if desired. Enjoy your dairy-free pasta with pesto and cheese!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2364 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 126.4 g | 162% | |
| Saturated Fat | 25.6 g | 128% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 11.5 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1555 mg | 68% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 261.5 g | 95% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 23.7 g | 85% | |
| Total Sugars | 17.6 g | ||
| Protein | 54.7 g | 109% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 506 mg | 39% | |
| Iron | 16.5 mg | 92% | |
| Potassium | 2045 mg | 44% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
