October 18, 2023

Green Pasta Sauce, Vegan with Vegetarian and Meat Topping Options

October 18, 2023

Green Pasta Sauce, Vegan with Vegetarian and Meat Topping Options

Packed with fresh spinach and basil, this vibrant green pasta sauce is fast and delicious. It’s also dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free. This is a super simple weeknight dinner or even a quick lunch — you can get this Green Pasta Sauce on the table in the time it takes for your pasta to boil. This recipes uses the Mother Mix, a DIY pantry stable that jumpstarts over 15 recipes. If you don’t have the Mother Mix, you can use the equivalent ingredients (almond flour, nutritional yeast, tapioca flour, and salt). Everything’s detailed in the Recipe Card below.

Spinach Basil Pasta is an easy plant-based pasta recipe with super simple topping options for vegetarians (parmesan), and omnivores (prosciutto).

Making the Green Sauce

This green pasta sauce could not be easier to make. It starts with the Mother Mix. If you don’t have the Mother Mix already made, don’t worry, it’s very fast. It’s just 4 dry ingredients, including nutritional yeast and almond flour. You put those in a blender with some lightly sautéed spinach, fresh basil, and garlic. Next, pour the mixture into a pan, and cook for a few minutes until the sauce thickens. That's it! 

About the Mother Mix

The Mother Mix is an all-natural, gluten-free dry mix that you can make in minutes and store in your pantry. 


Use it to jumpstart over 16 different creamy and cheesy plant-based recipes - from Spinach Dip to Scalloped Potatoes and Veggie Pot Pie.


You can also use it on its own -- just add water, blend, and heat -- to make a simple vegan cream sauce, delish over roasted veggies! 

Easy Variations for Mixed Diets

  • You can serve this completely plant-based, if you like. If desired, top with additional nutritional yeast or your choice of shredded plant-based cheese.
  • For vegetarians, Parmesan cheese makes a delicious topping.
  • For the carnivores, you can crisp up some prosciutto.
Pin for Green Pasta Sauce. Make this vibrant dish in minutes. You can get this green pasta sauce on the table in the time it takes for your pasta to boil. Close up image of spaghetti with green pasta sauce

Recipe Card

Green Pasta Sauce, Vegan with Vegetarian and Meat Topping Options

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Packed with fresh spinach and basil, this vibrant green pasta sauce is fast and delicious. Vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free, this Green Pasta Sauce makes a perfect weeknight dinner or even a quick lunch — you can get this on the table in the time it takes for your pasta to boil. Use gluten-free pasta if necessary.
Servings 4 people
Calories 193 kcal
Author Sylvia Eastman

Ingredients

  • pasta, of choice gluten-free, if necessary
  • 4 cups fresh spinach
  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder {or sub fresh minced garlic to taste}
  • 1 cup Mother Mix + 1 1/2 cup water {See Recipe Notes for link}

Optionally, if you don't have the Mother Mix

  • 3/4 cup almond flour {also called almond meal, or ground blanched almonds}
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 3 tablespoons tapioca starch
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt

Optional, toppings

  • for vegans, more nutritional yeast
  • for vegetarians, parmesan cheese
  • for omnivores, 2-3 slices proscuitto, per meat eater
  • for all, cracked black pepper

Instructions

Get your pasta started

    Make the Green Pasta Sauce

    • In a medium-sized frying pan, heat the oil, add the garlic, and then cook the spinach and basil until just wilted. Leave the pan on the stove as you’ll be using it again in a minute.
    • Add the wilted spinach/basil mix to the Mother Mix (or equivalent ingredients )in the blender and blend for about a minute, until well-combined.
    • Pour the blended spinach sauce into the frying pan. Put the heat on medium low and cook and stir for a few minutes until the sauce is thickened. It may look lumpy or curdled for a minute -- just keep stirring and it will smooth out.

    If you are making the omnivore version:

    • Quick fry the prosciutto. Slice into thin strips and then dry fry in a small frying pan into hot and crisp, about 3 minutes.

    For Serving

    • Pour over pasta and serve with your choice of toppings.  

    Notes

    Storage and Reheating
    You can store this Green Pasta Sauce in the fridge for 2-3 days in a well-sealed container. Either reheat in the microwave or over low to medium heat in a saucepan, stirring to remove any lumps or curdling. 

    About the Mother Mix

    The Mother Mix is a simple DIY dry mix that gives you a jumpstart on a number of recipes on this site. It’s vegan and gluten-free and made from all-natural ingredients. You can find the recipe for this awesome pantry staple here. 
    Nutritional Information
    Nutritional information is an estimate and is based on the vegan version with no additional toppings. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 469mg | Potassium: 260mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 2970IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 2mg

    Courses, Cuisines, and Keywords

    Course
    dinner, lunch, side
    Cuisine
    American
    Keywords
    creamy pasta sauce
    |
    creamy vegan pasta sauce
    |
    dairy-free creamy pasta sauce
    |
    dairy-free spinach pasta sauce
    |
    easy weeknight dinner
    |
    green pasta sauce
    |
    spinach basil pasta sauce
    |
    spinach pasta sauce
    |
    vegan green pasta sauce
    |
    vegan spinach pasta sauce

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    Hello!


    We're creating a course: Baby Steps to Plant-Based Eating

    Yes, seriously. Trying a plant-based diet can be overwhelming and we'd like to help. 

    This course is for you if: 

    • you're curious about plant-based eating, but don't know where to start 
    • you have family or friends who eat plant-based and you'd like to be able to cook for them
    • you've dabbled with plant-based cooking, but would like to expand your repertoire 

    Baby Steps to Plant-Based Eating will: 

    • answer your pressing questions
    • cultivate your confidence 
    • arm you with recipes

    Want to learn more?  

    Join our email list for updates about the course launch. You'll also get priority access to new recipes, and other subscriber privileges.