Trenette al Pesto from Luca (plant-based, gluten-free option)
If you've seen the fun Pixar movie Luca, you may remember that a certain pasta dish is featured. The two boys, who are really sea monsters, try "trenette al pesto" at their new human friend's house in Liguria, Italy.The dish is made up of linguine with homemade pesto, potatoes, and green beans. The Pixar recipe is here, but I wanted to make a vegan version without cheese in it. Everyone loved it at our house!Today I'm thinking of the Buddhist concept of diligence. In a recent dharma talk I watched, a Plum Village nun defined diligence as "knowing how to make good use of the mud."When things happen in our daily lives (mud), we can diligently practice these steps:1. Stop 2. Identify what is happening and how we are feeling about it3. If it's a positive, nourishing experience or feeling (joy, gratitude, love), focus on expanding and growing it4. If it's a negative, damaging experience or feeling (anger, fear, shame), focus on transforming and reframing instead of letting it get stuck in your body or guide your actionsI hope this post brings you a comforting meal and less suffering in your day.
Ingredients
- 1 pound linguine or fettucine pasta (gluten-free if desired)
- 4 medium yellow potatoes, cut into cubes
- 1 pound green beans, chopped
Pesto
- 45 basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 pinch coarse salt
- 4 Tbsp vegan parmesan (recipe at https://maitricooks.com/2021/02/15/vegan-parmesan-with-4-ingredients-recipe-278/)
- 1 handful roasted almonds (recipe at https://maitricooks.com/2021/02/25/easy-dry-roasted-almonds-163-of-1000-sustainable-food-experiments/)
- 75 mL extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp water from the pasta, if needed to thin the pesto sauce
Directions
- In a food processor, put the basil leaves, garlic, salt, vegan parmesan, and roasted almonds. Blend until it's all broken down, then slowly drizzle in the olive oil to make a smooth paste. Add 1-2 Tbsp of water if needed to thin it out. Taste for salt and set aside.
- In a large pot, add the pasta, potatoes, and green beans all together into boiling water. Boil for the number of minutes specified on the package directions, then drain everything in a colander.
- Pour the pasta and veggies back in the large pot, then mix the pesto in with it. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Did you make this? Please let me know by tagging @maitricooks on Instagram and leave any feedback on this recipe in the comments below. Happy cooking, and lots of love!
Pesto is the besto! 🙂
So popular!
Instagram comment from Jessica: Mmmm…..pesto❤️
Facebook comment from Lisa: Looks delicious!
Instagram comment from thetessa_marie: I am hungry just looking at this
@thetessa_marie Thanks Tessa-Marie! 😀
Amazing and comforting! 🙂