PROTEIN-PACKED PESTO PASTA SALAD

This protein packed pasta salad is the perfect one dish meal to get in all of your nutrients. It is a great recipe to meal prep for the week, bring to a cook-out, and can be enjoyed hot or cold!

Feel free to customize the add-ins to whatever you have on hand or switch up the pasta if you like.

Makes 1.5-2 cups of pesto

Ingredients

1 can of white beans (also called great northern)

3/4-1 cup of basil leaves

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 lemons juice

2 large kale leaves

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup nuts or seeds of choice (I used sunflower seeds but walnuts work great as well)

Directions

Blend all ingredients in food processor till well combined and there are no chunks- scrape down sides if needed, add more water (by the tbsp) if needed

makes 4-5 servings

Ingredients:

1 box of chickpea pasta

1 recipe of my protein pesto

1 cup sweet corn (I used frozen)

1 cup green peas (I used frozen)

2 cups kale

1 cup chopped cherry tomato

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package

Saute kale, corn, and peas, till kale has wilted and corn and peas are cooked through

Combine all ingredients in large bowl and mix till pasta is evenly coated with pesto and veggies. (If pesto is too thick add a splash of the pasta water)

*TIP: rinse your chickpea pasta under cold water after you strain it to keep it from getting mushy.

Enjoy :)

#pesto #chickpeapasta #plantbased #coolbeansnutrition