Delicious Vegan Parsley Cashew Pesto

Vegan_Parsley_Cashew_Pesto_IngredientsI truly love using my new food processor. It is not one of those fancy shmancy, expensive types, but it works just as well. As a matter of fact, it is so easy-to-use and creates such vegan deliciousness that after just two weeks in my possession, I can truthfully say that I am addicted to it.

Yesterday, I used my food processor to make scrumptious parsley cashew pesto. Compared to my basil walnut pesto, this sauce has a much stronger parmesanesque taste because the recipe calls for nutritional yeast, which has a nutty, cheesy flavor and is an excellent source of B vitamins.

Fact is that this pesto tastes so unbelievably good that you too won’t be able to resist the urge to eat it.

Instructions

Ingredients

  • ½ cup raw cashews
  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cover the cashews with some water and let them sit for 1+ hours.
  2. Drain the cashews using a colander and add them to a food processor together with the other ingredients.
  3. Process the mixture until your preferred consistency has been reached.
  4. Taste and add additional lemon juice or salt and pepper as desired.
  5. Enjoy!

Vegan_Parsley_Cashew_Pesto

BWI: This delicious pesto or any vegan pesto for that matter can be added to numerous dishes. I enjoy this special sauce with baked potato wedges or roasted vegetables.

Suggested Kitchen Soundtrack

Super Tasty Guacamole

GuacamoleFresh, homemade guacamole is an absolute favorite of my friends and I. Every time that we meet for an outdoor picnic, I bring some guacamole with corn chips and within minutes, it’s gone.

Next time when you have a potluck dinner or family gathering, bring this super delicious dip. This guacamole not only tastes extremely yummy, but is also very easy to make. You don’t even need a food processor! So what are you waiting for? Get chopping!

Side Note: Avocados are incredibly nutritious. They are an excellent source of potassium (they contain more K than bananas), omega-3 fatty acids, lutein and fiber. This super fruit has a wide range of health benefits. Among other things, it facilitates the absorption of nutrients from other plant foods; reduces cancer risk; lowers cholesterol levels; and supports eye- and heart health. Don’t be fooled by their high fat content, eating avocados even promotes weight loss.

Instructions

Ingredients

  • ½ a small red onion
  • 1  red chilli pepper (or 2 for a little extra kick)
  • 2 ripe avocados
  • 1 bunch of fresh coriander
  • 1 medium-sized tomato or 4 cherry tomatoes
  • 1 garlic clove (optional)
  • 1 lime
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Peel and dice the onion and then prep the red chili pepper by cutting it in quarters; removing the seeds and pith inside; and dicing the quarters.
  2. Destone the avocados and scoop out their creamy flesh.
  3. Combine the three ingredients on a large cutting board and chop them until they are well-combined.
  4. Chop the coriander leaves into small pieces; dice the tomato; and mince the garlic clove.
  5. Add the remaining 3 ingredients to the avocado mixture and chop them all together until they are fine and well-combined.
  6. Add the juice of 1 lime and 1 tbsp of oil, then season to taste with salt, pepper, lime juice and red pepper flakes. Have fun with it!
  7. I like my guacamole chilled, so I always put it in the fridge before serving it.
  8. Enjoy!

Serving Suggestion: Serve with corn chips or use dip as a sandwich spread on toasted whole-wheat bread.

Suggested Kitchen Soundtrack

Whole-wheat pasta with vegan parsley cashew pesto

Whole-Wheat_Pasta-Parsley_Cashew_PestoThis is the ultimate feel-good pasta dish. It takes under 30 minutes to make and tastes incredible. It is laden with vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber. A 1-cup serving of cooked whole-wheat spaghetti meets roughly 23% of your daily fiber- and 16% of your daily protein requirement.

Vegan parsley cashew pesto not only tastes outlandishly good, but also provides many health benefits. Parsley is an excellent source of flavonoids, vitamin C, vitamin A and folic acid, which protect against heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Cashews are loaded with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidants. Whoot!

This is the absolute crowd-pleaser, so invite friends and family for an impromptu, hassle-free dinner party. Crank up the music and have fun!

Instructions

Pasta

Ingredients

  • Whole-wheat pasta
  • Sea salt

Instructions

  1. Fill a large, deep pot with approximately 1 liter of water for every 100 grams of whole wheat pasta that you plan to cook.
  2. Stir in 1 tbsp. of salt per each 500g of pasta to supercharge the cooked pasta’s flavor (optional).
  3. Bring the water to a rolling boil.
  4. Pour the whole wheat pasta into the boiling water and stir immediately in order to prevent the individual pieces from sticking together.
  5. Keep the water at a low boil and continue to stir it every few minutes.
  6. Whole wheat pasta will be cooked to “al dente” (chewy) in roughly 10 to 14 minutes. Cooking time varies depending on brand and stove performance. Check for doneness by tasting a tiny pasta sample. The pasta should be soft, but still have a little bite to it. Finito!

Vegan_Parsley_Cashew_PestoVegan Parsley Cashew Pesto

Ingredients

  • ½ cup raw cashews
  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • 2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cover the cashews with some water and let them sit for 1+ hours.
  2. Drain the cashews using a colander and add them to a food processor together with the other ingredients. (If you are in a hurry, steps 1 and 2 can be skipped)
  3. Process the mixture until your preferred consistency has been reached.
  4. Taste and add additional lemon juice and/or salt and pepper as desired.
  5. Use immediately or store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Suggested Toppings:

Vegan Cashew Parmesan & Toasted Cashews

Suggested Kitchen Soundtrack