- Prep-time: / Ready In:
- Serves 4
- Print/save recipe
Chickpeas give this vegan pesto recipe a lovely creaminess. If you can use homemade almond milk, which doesn’t take long to make, all the better. Tossed with whole-grain penne, broccoli, and cherry tomatoes, it makes a satisfying, colorful meal.
By Del Sroufe,
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dried penne pasta
- 2 cups 1-inch broccoli florets
- 1½ cups packed with fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup water
- 2 to 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
- 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), rinsed and drained
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- Crushed red pepper, to taste (optional)
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan cook broccoli in a small amount of boiling water 5 minutes or until tender; drain.
- In a blender combine basil, ½ cup of the water, and the garlic. Cover and blend until finely chopped.
- In a large saucepan mash garbanzo beans with a potato masher, leaving some beans intact. Add milk and the remaining ½ cup water. Bring to boiling. Stir in basil mixture, tomatoes, and, if desired, crushed red pepper. Reduce heat. Simmer 10 minutes or until tomatoes are slightly softened.
- Stir in cooked pasta and broccoli. Cook over medium-low 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through. Season with salt and black pepper.
Comments (6)
(4 from 6 votes)In the comments below it was mentioned to add more veges. I added 1 x carrot, sliced, mushrooms quartered, approx 1 cup; roasted the tomatoes and the juice from roasting and approx 1 cup of roasted Brussel sprouts. Still needs salt 🤷🏼♀️
Wonderful flavors in the pesto! I added more veggies, besides broccoli - everyone enjoyed!!
This was an easy dish. My kids also liked it (without salt) and we put extra salt and pepper otherwise it was a bit tasteless. one plate and even my fitness husband was full!
Fabulous! Definitely needs the salt. I would double the broccoli . Very hearty!
Awful!
It was pretty good just almost seems like it needs a creme sauce to it