Heart-Healthy Spaghetti with Pesto
Savor the vibrant flavors of Heart-Healthy Spaghetti with Pesto, a wholesome twist on a classic pasta dish that's perfect for nutritious weeknight dinners. Featuring fiber-packed whole wheat spaghetti and a creamy, dairy-free pesto made with fresh avocado, basil, baby spinach, walnuts, and nutritional yeast, this recipe delivers bold taste while supporting heart health. A squeeze of lemon juice adds zest, while garlic and olive oil provide depth to the silky sauce. Ready in under half an hour, this quick and easy meal is an ideal choice for health-conscious food lovers. Garnish with sweet cherry tomatoes for an optional burst of color and bright flavor, and enjoy a guilt-free pasta night that’s loaded with vitamins, healthy fats, and deliciousness.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz Whole wheat spaghetti
- 1 large Avocado
- 2 cups Fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup Baby spinach
- 2 small Garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons Fresh lemon juice
- 2.5 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Raw walnuts
- 2 tablespoons Nutritional yeast
- 0.5 teaspoon Sea salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Ground black pepper
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes (optional for garnish)
Instructions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt and cook the whole wheat spaghetti according to the package instructions, usually 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of pasta cooking water, and set aside.
While the pasta cooks, prepare the pesto sauce. In a food processor or blender, combine the flesh of the avocado, fresh basil leaves, baby spinach, garlic cloves, lemon juice, olive oil, walnuts, nutritional yeast, sea salt, and ground black pepper.
Pulse the ingredients until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed. If the pesto seems too thick, add the reserved pasta cooking water one tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is achieved.
Toss the cooked spaghetti with the pesto sauce in the pot or a large bowl until evenly coated.
Plate the pasta and garnish with halved cherry tomatoes for a pop of color and extra flavor, if desired.
Serve immediately and enjoy your heart-healthy spaghetti with pesto!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1246 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 76.8 g | 98% | |
| Saturated Fat | 10.5 g | 52% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3.6 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1229 mg | 53% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 126.1 g | 46% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 36.0 g | 129% | |
| Total Sugars | 9.5 g | ||
| Protein | 34.3 g | 69% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 199 mg | 15% | |
| Iron | 9.7 mg | 54% | |
| Potassium | 2323 mg | 49% | |
*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.
