Green Pasta Sauce Recipe
This quick pasta sauce is made with spinach, basil, garlic,lemon, Parmesan, and olive oil — no cream, cashews, or avocado needed. It blends into a silky, vibrant sauce that’s fresh, savory,and perfect for a quick weeknight pasta dinner.
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 396kcal
Equipment
- 1 Food processor or blender
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta (I prefer spaghetti or linguine noodles)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, sliced
- 10 ounces fresh baby spinach
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1 cup (packed) fresh basil leaves
- zest and juice from 1 lemon (about 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 Tablespoon of lemon zest)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional garnish)
Instructions
Cook the pasta:
- Over high heat, bring a large pot of (generously salted) water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions. After pasta is cooked, set aside ½ cup of pasta water and drain the pasta.
Make green sauce:
- While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add spinach and cook, using tongs to toss frequently, until spinach has wilted.
- Transfer spinach mixture to a food processor or blender. Add the Parmesan cheese, basil, lemon juice and zest, salt, and pepper, and blend until mixture is smooth and creamy, stopping once to scrape down the sides.
Assemble pasta:
- After draining the pasta, return it to the previously used large skillet or a large mixing bowl. Pour pasta sauce over noodles, along with 2 tablespoons of pasta water, and toss well with tongs so that noodles are well-coated with the sauce. Add more pasta water as needed, continuing to toss noodles, until you have a silky sauce.
- Season to taste with additional salt and black pepper if necessary. Garnish with red pepper flakes (if using) and serve immediately.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftover spinach pasta sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The sauce will thicken as it sits, so add a splash of water, broth, or reserved pasta water when reheating.
Nutrition
Calories: 396kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 371mg | Potassium: 563mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 6576IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 234mg | Iron: 4mg
