Deliciously Green and Wholesome, this Green Goddess Pasta with Crispy Leeks Recipe is Perfect for Quick and Healthy Weeknight Dinners
It’s easy to think that healthy and delicious meals typically come with a bulk of prep and hours to cook. But that’s not always the case!
Enter this delicious Vegan Green Goddess Pasta with Crispy Leeks by our Cosmic Cookware friend @itslizmiu!
This wholesome pasta takes only 30 minutes to prepare, making it a quick and healthy yet delicious meal that is simply perfect for busy weeknights or lazy days when you are craving something quick and nourishing.
If you love to cook pasta at home and to order a green goddess salad when you’re out, you’ll definitely love this recipe. It combines the best of both worlds into one wholesome and nourishing dish that is packed with vitamins and minerals to get you through the day feeling just like a goddess.
What’s in this Vegan Green Goddess Pasta?
You’d have likely heard or tried a green goddess salad before. It’s typically a classic salad dressing that is made out of various herbs and vegetables which are all blended up and finished with some lemon juice for a zesty touch to create the green goddess dressing.
This recipe draws inspiration from the green goddess dressing and pasta salad to create a warm vegan green goddess pasta instead of a cold green goddess pasta salad. This makes it perfect for cold, rainy days or winter months where you would much rather avoid cold dishes.
This recipe is a vegan-friendly delight that uses vegan parmesan and vegan sour cream instead of dairy. Not only is it healthier, but it also means that you can indulge guilt-free knowing how wholesome the dish is.
If you’re a parent then this recipe is going to be a welcome addition to your home’s weekly dinners. The main ingredients - spinach, parsley, basil, vegan parmesan, sunflower seed - makes this recipe packed with essential vitamins and minerals. So it’s not just a tasty alternative to salads, but it’s also an easy way to sneak veggies into meals.
It’s a smart way to introduce more greens into yours or your little one’s diet without having to toss yet another salad that fussy eaters will set aside.
We’ve been told that even carnivorous guests at the table absolutely loved this deliciously creamy green goddess pasta.
Those who already adore the classic green goddess salad dressing will find this a dream come true. Think fresh herbs and vegetables blended to perfection, finished with a zesty touch of lemon. It’s truly a refreshing, flavoursome dish that delivers green goodness.
Let’s not forget how the addition of crispy leeks add a whole new level of desirable texture to this creamy dish. Imagine having each bite completed with a delightful crisp - how yummy!
A Dish That’s Perfect for On-The-Go Lifestyles
This pasta is a complete meal in itself, making it an ideal choice to pack it with you on-the-go. Most wholesome dishes come with various ingredients that often have to be cooked individually because of differing textures, but not this one.
There’s no need to prepare multiple dishes. All you need to do is blend the sauce, crisp the leeks, cook pasta, and thoroughly assemble it! It’s your weekday time-saver that also delivers a loaded nutritional punch which you can pack for picnics, lunch in the office, or even to classes.
Cooking Tips and Tricks You Can Try for the Perfect Vegan Green Goddess Pasta
Don’t Substitute Pasta Water with Regular Water
Pasta water contains just enough starchiness that helps the green goddess sauce cling effortlessly to the pasta. And if you’ve always boiled pasta the right way in salted water, then you’ll know that the pasta water’s saltiness will enhance the dish’s overall flavour.
Make a Gluten-Free Version Just by Substituting the Pasta for a Gluten-Free Pasta
Want to make it gluten-free? It’s easy! Just substitute pasta for your favourite brand of gluten-free pasta to transform this recipe into a vegan and gluten-free delight.
Remember, when working with gluten-free pasta like lentil pasta, it’s important to follow the package directions to a T and avoid overcooking it. You’d want to avoid a soggy mess because you’ll also be putting the pasta through more heat when you mix the pasta and sauce together.
Resist the urge to rinse the pasta too, because the extra starch is key to combine the sauce and pasta perfectly.
I Don’t Have Vegan Parmesan. Can I Substitute Vegan Parmesan for Nutritional Yeast Instead?
Sure you can! Nutritional yeast is a fantastic alternative to cheese, especially for vegan cooking because of its cheese, nutty flavour profile.
That said, bear in mind that its flavour profile may not fully replicate vegan parmesan so the taste may be slightly different. Sure it has the cheesiness and umami that vegan parmesan has, but it has less texture and depth.
To substitute, just replace vegan parmesan with half the amount of nutritional yeast. For example; this recipe calls for 1/4 cup of vegan parmesan. So you’ll want to only use 1/8 cup of nutritional yeast here.
If you’d like a stronger, cheesier flavour, you can always add more nutritional yeast. This switch ensures that you will still get the recipe’s full savoury cheesiness.
Now without further ado, let’s get cooking!
