Green Green Pasta Recipes

GREEN ON GREEN PASTA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, heat the vegetable oil. Add the leeks, cover and cook for a couple of minutes until they begin to soften. Add the garlic and cabbage, 1 cup of the water, cover and cook for 10 minutes or until the cabbage has wilted. Add the remaining water, zucchini and green beans, cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are somewhat tender. Add the pasta, cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender. (At this point check the level of liquid; if the soup seems somewhat thick, just add more water to bring the level of the liquid back up to where it was at the beginning of cooking time.) Add the peas and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes to heat through. Season carefully with salt and pepper. Remove the soup from the heat and stir in the fresh herbs. Serve with 1 or 2 of the garnishes, according to taste.

CREAMY GREEN PASTA

Steps:

• For the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Cook the pasta as per the package instructions (10 to 12 minutes).
• For the toasted breadcrumbs: Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the extra-virgin olive oil. Once hot, add the breadcrumbs, along with a good seasoning pinch of salt and pepper, and fry, stirring frequently, until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes. Now stir in the chopped parsley and tip out into a bowl. Set aside.
• Now add the olive oil to the same pan, then add the chopped leeks and broccoli florets and sauté until just cooked through, about 4 minutes. Stir in the peas, chopped spinach and B12 flakes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the plant-based cream. Return the pan to the heat and season with a big, generous pinch of sea salt and a generous helping of black pepper. Add the zest of the lemon.
• Drain the cooked pasta and add to the pan, tossing to coat in the sauce. Sprinkle with the crispy breadcrumbs and serve.

LEMON & GREENS PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Meanwhile, cook the broccoli for 4 mins in boiling salted water. Drain, then put in a food processor along with the basil, spinach and pine nuts. Pulse until combined.
• Stir in the garlic, lemon zest and juice, olive oil, peas, parmesan and soft cheese, and season to taste.
• Drain the pasta, reserving a little of the cooking water. Return the pasta to the pan and add the pesto along with a splash of water to loosen. Toss together, check the seasoning and serve.

PASTA WITH COLLARD GREENS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt generously and add the collard greens. Blanch for 2 minutes, then using a slotted spoon or a skimmer, transfer to a bowl of cold water and drain. Squeeze out excess water and cut crosswise into thin ribbons.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large lidded frying pan and add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until it is tender and translucent, about 5 minutes, and add a generous pinch of salt, the red pepper flakes and the garlic. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute, and add the collard greens and salt and pepper to taste. When the greens begin to sizzle, turn the heat to low, cover and simmer 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water, cover and continue to simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until the greens are tender. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta. Bring the water in the pot back to a boil and add the pasta. Cook al dente, following the timing instructions on the package.
• Before draining the pasta, ladle 1/2 cup of the cooking water from the pot into the frying pan with the collard greens and onions. Drain the pasta and toss with the greens. Serve, topping each serving with Parmesan to taste.