Ingredients
- 16 ounces Farfalle (Bow Tie Pasta)
- 6 ounces Fresh Basil Leaves
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 0.3 cup, grated Parmesan Cheese
- 0/25 cup Flax Seeds
- 1 Lemon
- 0.5 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 0.5 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Directions
A seedy spin on a traditional green pesto with this flax seed basil pesto pasta dish!
Pesto recipes are fun to make and are also very customizable.
The word pesto means “pounded” in Italian and is traditionally green. As the food world innovates, so do the traditional dishes.
Traditionally, green pesto is made with basil, extra virgin olive, oil, garlic, parmigiano reggiano, salt, and pine nuts.
Instead of pine nuts, this recipe uses flax seeds!
Flax seeds are small oil seeds that contain omega-3 fats, fiber, and other plant compounds.
These little brown or golden seeds contain some protein and a lot of fiber.
Soluble fiber helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels. It also promotes digestive health by feeding your beneficial gut bacteria!
I do like that salty bite from the parmesan cheese but you can also use nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan cheese if you want to keep it dairy free!
As parmesan cheese is very low in lactose, I use it every now and then.
Since this recipe has minimal ingredients and is mostly raw, it is important to use high-quality products.
Use an extra virgin olive oil that comes in a dark bottle.
Most olive oils are blends for one of two regions. If you can find a single origin extra virgin olive oil I would go for it!
Really good olive oil should be smooth, fruity and have a beautiful aroma.
Steps
1 Done | Boil The PastaBring a large pot of water to a boil then season with 1 Tablespoon sea salt and add the pasta. Cook until al-dente, about 8 minutes. |
2 Done | Make the Flax Seed PestoWhile the pasta is cooking, make the flax seed pesto. Add washed basil leaves to a food processor along with the garlic cloves, grated parmesan cheese (use vegan if desired), flax seeds, lemon juice, salt and black pepper. Turn on the food processor and slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil. Blend until creamy. |
3 Done | Toss Pasta in the Pesto SauceAdd the cooked pasta to a large bowl with the flax seed pesto and mix to combine then serve. |
