Fusilli In Creamy Vegan Asparagus Pesto Recipes

CREAMY VEGAN LEMON ASPARAGUS PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C). Add asparagus to a baking sheet and toss with 1/2 Tbsp olive oil and a pinch each salt and pepper (amounts as original recipe is written // alter if adjusting batch size). Top with several thin slices of lemon and bake for 20-25 minutes. Once finished cooking, remove from oven and roughly chop into thirds.
• In the meantime, bring a pot of water to a boil and salt generously.
• While the water's heating, bring a large skillet to medium heat. Once hot, add 3 Tbsp olive oil (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and garlic. Whisk and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes or until garlic is just starting to brown.
• Add 3 Tbsp flour (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and whisk. Cook for 30 seconds, then whisk in almond milk 1/2 cup at a time. TIP: Use a large flat spatula to smash down the bits of garlic and flour to properly incorporate. Add a healthy pinch salt and pepper and whisk. Slightly lower heat and continue cooking to thicken, stirring occasionally.
• Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package instructions. Then drain and set aside.
• For extra creamy sauce, add sauce to a blender or use an immersion blender to blend. Add nutritional yeast and another pinch of salt and pepper. If it looks runny, add remaining flour (or cornstarch). Blend until creamy and smooth, using the "puree" or "liquify" setting if possible. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, then add back to pan and continue cooking over medium to medium-low heat to thicken.
• Once your sauce has reached desired thickness, add the juice of half a lemon and stir.
• Add 3/4 of the chopped asparagus and the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat.
• Divide between 2-3 serving plates (per original recipe // adjust if altering batch size) and top with remaining asparagus. Serve with a lemon wedge and vegan parmesan cheese.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to a few days.

FUSILLI WITH SPICY PESTO

Steps:

• For the pesto: In a food processor, combine the walnuts, garlic, jalapeno, cheese, salt and pepper. Process until the mixture is smooth. Add the spinach and arugula and process until blended. With the machine running, gradually add the olive oil.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water. Place the cooked pasta and pesto in a large serving bowl. Toss well and thin out the sauce with a little pasta water, if needed.
• Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with Asiago cheese shavings and serve.
• *Cook's Note: For a milder pesto, remove the seeds from the jalapeno pepper.

CREAMY PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS & PEAS

Steps:

• Cook the pasta following the pack instructions. Two minutes before the end of the cooking time, add the asparagus and peas. Boil everything together for the final 2 mins, then scoop out and reserve a cup of the cooking liquid from the pan before draining the pasta and veg.
• Return the pasta and veg to the pan and add the lemon zest, soft cheese and seasoning. Add a squeeze of lemon juice to taste and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the cooking liquid to loosen the sauce.

LINGUINE WITH ASPARAGUS PESTO

Steps:

• Snap off and discard ends of asparagus. Cut off top two inches of spears and reserve. Chop rest of spears and put in food processor with garlic, processing until very finely minced. With the machine running, drizzle in olive oil. Add 1/2 cup cheese and pulse. Transfer mixture to a bowl, fold in lemon zest, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add pasta and cook about 6 minutes, until not quite al dente. Add asparagus spears to the pot and cook another 1 to 2 minutes, until pasta is al dente.
• Spoon 1/4 cup pasta water into a large skillet. Drain pasta and asparagus tips and add to skillet along with asparagus mixture and lemon juice. Cook over low heat, stirring with tongs, 3 minutes or so, until ingredients are well blended. Check seasonings. Transfer to 4 warm plates, scatter with oregano and serve with extra cheese.

FUSILLI WITH ASPARAGUS AND BACON

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about 6 minutes. Transfer bacon with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from skillet, then add oil and onion to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden, about 4 minutes.
• Add asparagus and sauté, stirring, until crisp-tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• While onion is cooking, cook pasta in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water and drain pasta in a colander.
• Return pasta to pot along with asparagus mixture, 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, and cheese. Add remaining 1/2 cup cooking water to skillet and deglaze by boiling, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Add to pasta and toss over moderately low heat until combined well, about 30 seconds.
• Serve pasta sprinkled with bacon and with additional cheese on the side.

FUSILLI WITH LEMON CREAM SAUCE, ASPARAGUS, AND PEAS

Steps:

• Cook pasta until al dente, adding the asparagus for the last minute of cooking time.
• Place the peas in a colander, then drain the pasta and asparagus over the top of them (this will just heat the peas without overcooking them).
• In a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Combine broth and cornstarch, add to pan and bring to a boil.
• Cook, stirring, until broth starts to thicken, about 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and add cream, juice, salt, and peppers.
• Stir to combine.
• Add pasta and vegetables to the sauce, tossing gently to coat.
• Serve immediately.

PESTO WITH FUSILLI

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil, add pasta, and cook to al dente.
• In a food processor, combine basil and pine nuts, and blend. Add the garlic and drizzle in the olive oil while the processor is in operation. When the mixture turns to a paste, add the salt, pepper, and Parmesan, and pulse until well blended.
• To serve, simply combine the pasta and pesto together, and sprinkle Parmesan on top.

FUSILLI IN CREAMY VEGAN ASPARAGUS PESTO

Steps:

• Process 1 garlic clove in a blender until finely chopped. Add ⅓ cup cashews and 1 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 ¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt and blend until cashews are finely chopped, about 30 seconds. Add 1 cup packed basil leaves and half of asparagus (about 4 oz.) and process until a smooth paste forms, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. With processor running, stream in ⅓ cup olive oil and 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice until combined.
• Cook 12 oz. whole wheat fusilli in a large pot of boiling salted water for 1 minute less than package directions. Add remaining asparagus and cook for 1 minute more. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking liquid, then drain pasta and asparagus.
• Return pasta and asparagus to pot and add pesto. Toss, adding pasta cooking liquid ¼ cup at a time, until desired texture is achieved. Top each serving with additional basil leaves.

VEGAN CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Combine coconut oil and onion in a large pot over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, salt, rosemary, thyme, and pepper; cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add asparagus. Cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and add cashews, vegetable broth, and coconut milk. Bring to a low boil, cover, and simmer until asparagus is tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in lemon juice. Let stand until cooled slightly.
• Puree asparagus soup using an immersion blender until smooth. Garnish with chopped parsley.

VEGAN CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Place a large stockpot over medium heat. Sprinkle the bottom with a pinch of sea salt and heat for 1 minute. Add the oil and heat for 30 seconds, being careful not to let it smoke. This will creat a nonstick effect.
• Add the asparagus, celery, and onion and saute for 6-10 minutes, just until celery is soft. Add the stock and bay leaf, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 more minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Working in batches, pour the soup into a blender. Cover the lid with a towel(the hot liquid may spout out of the blender), blend on high. Add the spinach to the last batch and continue blending until smooth. Pour the soup into a large bowl and stir to incorporate the spinach batch.
• Ladle into bowls and garnish with baby greens(or use chives or beets) and drops of Cashew Cream. Enjoy!