Pesto Tahini Pasta with Charred Broccoli
This Pesto Tahini Pasta with Charred Broccoli is the perfect vegan/dairy-free creamy pasta dish. It is a great lunch meal prep option or perfect for meatless Monday. It is loaded with herbs and spices, you won't even miss the dairy.
Servings: 6 people
Ingredients
Charred Broccoli
- 4 cups bite sized pieces broccoli
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Pasta
- 1 pound pasta of choice
- 1 cup pasta water reserved after cooking
Sautéed Onions & Garlic
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup minced onion
Sauce
- ½ cup tahini
- ⅓ cup vegan basil pesto
- 1 lemon juiced
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- On a baking sheet, toss together the broccoli, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Roast for 15-20 minutes or until the broccoli is slightly charred and cooked to desired tenderness. Broil for 1-2 minutes for an extra char.
- While the broccoli is roasting, prepare the rest of the components. Boil the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water. Set aside.
- While the pasta is boiling, in a large skillet, heat 1 Tablespoon of olive oil on medium heat. Sauté the garlic and onions for a few minutes, or until the onions are translucent. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, pesto, lemon juice, basil, lemon zest, chili flakes, salt, pepper. Set aside.
- In the large skillet with the onions and garlic, toss the pasta, sauce, and ½ cup of pasta water. Add more water if needed.
- Top with charred broccoli. Garnish with additional lemon zest, basil, and chili flakes if desired.
Notes
Pasta: Substitute gluten free pasta to make this dish gluten free.
Broccoli: You can substitute cauliflower or even zucchini. Cooking times may differ.
Keep a close eye on the broccoli while it broils, it will char quickly.
Don't over cook the pasta. Follow the instructions on the package and be sure to set a timer. If there is a cook time range, ere on the side of less time and taste the pasta to see if it needs more time.
Use a metal measuring cup or ladle to remove the pasta water. Right before the pasta is done, scoop out at least 1 cup of pasta water.
Save extra pasta water so you have it if the sauce needs to be thinned out more.