High Protein Spinach Pasta

Silken tofu gives this family-friendly pasta its wonderfully creamy texture, as well as lots of protein – the dish has 21g of protein per person. Also the hemp seeds are a great source of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids.

Ingredients

-1 people+

Metric

Method

1. 1

   Cook the pasta in a pot of salted boiling water as per the packet instructions. Once the pasta is ready, drain it and reserve about half a cup of the pasta water for later.

   
2. 2

   Meanwhile, add the spinach to a pan on a medium heat and cook for 2-3 minutes or until wilted. Add a tablespoon of pasta water to the spinach if it’s sticking to the pan.

   
3. 3

   Next, transfer the spinach to a high speed blender along with the silken tofu, nutritional yeast, cashews, hemp seeds, garlic, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and generous pinches of salt and pepper. Blend until the sauce is smooth, adding a tablespoon or so of the reserved pasta water to the sauce, if needed, to loosen it up.

   
4. 4

   Pour the spinach sauce into the pan you used earlier and heat it on a low temperature until warm. Tip the pasta into the sauce and stir to combine.

   
5. 5

   Serve the pasta with a drizzle of olive oil, an extra pinch of pepper and some grated vegan parmesan, if you like.