Macarrão ao Pesto

Macarrão ao Pesto is a vibrant and flavorful Brazilian vegan pasta dish that combines the nuttiness of cashews with the freshness of basil and garlic. This dish is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, bringing a taste of Brazil to your table.

Ingredients

• Pasta (spaghetti or linguine) - 200 grams
• Fresh basil leaves - 50 grams
• Raw cashews - 40 grams
• Garlic - 2 cloves
• Nutritional yeast - 3 tablespoons
• Olive oil - 4 tablespoons
• Lemon juice - 2 tablespoons
• Salt - to taste
• Black pepper - to taste

Steps

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes.
2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the pesto by combining the basil leaves, cashews, garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper in a food processor.
3. Blend the ingredients until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary. If the mixture is too thick, add a little water until you reach your desired consistency.
4. Once the pasta is cooked, reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
5. In the pot, combine the drained pasta with the pesto sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to help the sauce adhere to the pasta.
6. Toss well to coat the pasta evenly with the pesto. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
7. Serve immediately, garnished with additional basil or nutritional yeast if desired.

Nutrition

• Calories: 550
• Protein: 15 g
• Carbs: 70 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Total Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
• Water: 0.5 L

Health Benefits

• Rich in healthy fats from cashews and olive oil.
• High in vitamins and minerals from fresh basil and garlic.

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