I'm excited to share this vibrant green pasta sauce that's made in minutes. It's packed with goodness, and thanks to the avocado it has a super creamy texture that coats the pasta beautifully and means the taste stays with you for every bite.
The recipe is by food blogger Jacqueline Meldrum of Tinned Tomatoes, and is featured in Living on the Veg: A kids' guide to life without meat.
Living on the Veg is a newly released children's book by Clive Gifford and Jacqueline Meldrum, which is aimed at children aged 9-11 to introduce them to the fundamentals of vegetarianism.
If you're looking to help your child understand the vegetarian diet in an accessible way with plenty of illustrations and a good supply of recipes, Living on the Veg is a great option.
Now, let's make Jac's fabulously quick and creamy green pasta.
Ingredients
- 300 g (10.6 oz) pasta
- 1 ripe avocado skin and stone removed
- 100 g (3.5 oz) frozen peas
- 1 handful spinach leaves
- 1 handful fresh coriander
- 1 handful fresh parsley
- 4 tbsp vegetarian hard cheese or mature cheddar
- 200 ml (6.8 floz) whole milk
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
Equipment
Instructions
Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling water according to the packet instructions, then drain and return to the pot.
While the pasta is cooking, whizz up the avocado, peas, spinach, herbs, cheese and milk in a blender or food processor. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Pour the sauce over your cooked pasta.
Stir in and warm a little over a low heat.
Serve into bowls.
Doesn't it look delicious? Such a great, creamy texture! We left ours with a little texture, but with a decent blender you could get the consistency completely smooth, if preferred.
What do you think? Are you tempted to make this quick green pasta sauce at home?
More tips for the perfect green pasta
These cooking tips and serving suggestions will help you make the perfect green pasta.
What type of pasta goes best with green sauces?
I find anything with a large surface area works well which allows the relatively thin sauce to coat all the nooks and crannies, so fusilli or penne rigate are great choices.
If you can find rotelle (sometimes called 'wagon wheels') they're a fun choice too, or use wholewheat pasta if you're looking to be especially healthy.
What goes well with green pasta sauce?
How about a Bramley apple and beetroot salad? Or garlic and paprika battered courgette chips make for a great for a treat.
Can I add veg to to the dish?
Yes, I would recommend roasting off some courgette and aubergine on a baking tray in the oven at 200C with a little olive oil and freshly ground pepper. Cook for 20 minutes then stir through the cooked pasta.
Is green pasta sauce healthy?
With a mixture of leafy greens, peas and and natural fats from the avocado green pasta sauce is is lovely and healthy. If you want the healthiest option possible why not add the sauce to whole wheat pasta.
Can I refrigerate green pasta sauce?
For best results I would make the the green sauce and only refrigerate that - it will keep for 2 days in the fridge. Then under cook the pasta by a minute or two and stir in the green sauce when you need it and finish over a low heat.
You can also keep cooked pasta with sauce in the fridge for 2 days as long as you have have cooled it down and refrigerated it within 2 hours of cooking.
Print this recipe for later
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Quick green pasta sauce
Ingredients
- 300 g (10.6 oz) pasta
- 1 ripe avocado skin and stone removed
- 100 g (3.5 oz) frozen peas
- 1 handful spinach leaves
- 1 handful fresh coriander
- 1 handful fresh parsley
- 4 tbsp vegetarian hard cheese or mature cheddar
- 200 ml (6.8 floz) whole milk
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling water according to the packet instructions, then drain and return to the pot.
- While the pasta is cooking, whizz up the avocado, peas, spinach, herbs, cheese and milk and blender or food processor.
- Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Pour the sauce over your cooked pasta, stir in and warm a little over a low heat.
- Serve in bowls, topped with a sprinkle of cheese. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Recipe by Jacqueline Meldrum as featured in Living on the Veg, reproduced with permission.
Pin this vegetarian pasta sauce recipe for later
Try these great kid-friendly vegetarian recipes
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Lisa says
Such an easy way to get kids to eat veggies and to show them there are other ways to get nutrients into their diets!
Emily Leary says
Absolutely! It's a lovely recipe - I'm sure your kids will love it as much as mine do, in fact it goes down a treat with the whole family!
Kara says
This looks fabulous. I struggle getting veggies in the kids but they would love green pasta
Emily Leary says
This is a fab pasta dish and we all love it in our house! 'Living on the Veg" is a fab book with lots of other delicious recipes to try!
Louise says
I'm definitely going to have to have a go at making this at home, Emily! The kids would love it. Green pasta that looks good AND is good for you? It's got to be a winner :)
Louise x
Emily Leary says
Hi Louise :) This lovely recipe is certainly a winner in our house. The sauce is is quick and easy to make and tastes delicious!
Lauretta at Home and Horizon says
This pasta recipe looks delicious! I want to get that book and give it a try now.
Emily Leary says
Yes, do check out the book, it's great! We love this recipe in my house, it's so tasty and super speedy and easy to make!
MELANIE EDJOURIAN says
This sounds like a lovely recipe. I love that there is so much hidden veg in there making this dish really healthy.
Emily Leary says
This delicious green pasta sauce is SO yummy and a great hit in our house! My kids loved helping to put the sauce ingredients into the blender and tasting the delicious result! There's a great range of recipes in 'Living on the Veg' - definitely well worth checking out!
Bella and Dawn at Dear Mummy Blog says
We love the colour of it and it looks super yummy and creamy - going to try making this at home over the half term x
Emily Leary says
Yes, we all love this delicious creamy pasta sauce in our house. I'm sure that your kids will love it as much as mine! The book is lovely with lots of tasty recipes to try :)
The London Mum says
Ok I NEED to get that book- what greta simple but effective recipes!
Emily Leary says
This recipe is so tasty and there are many more in 'Living on the Veg" - it's a lovely book.
Kristina says
This looks delicious, I would eat it right now!
Emily Leary says
It really tastes so good and as all the sauce ingredients are mixed together in the blender, it's super quick and easy to make.
Alison Rost says
The avocado isn't just going to make this sauce healthier, it's also going to make it creamier, which is perfect! I think this sauce is a must try and I love how easy it is to make!
Emily Leary says
Yes, this is a great recipe and it's SO tasty.'Living on the Veg' is very well worth taking a look :)
Kelly says
Yum, I could definitely do this with vegan parmesan in place of the dairy one. Looks great.
Emily Leary says
Absolutely. This dish is delicious and it's so quick and easy to make. The book 'Living on the Veg' is lovely and well worth a look.
Melanie says
I love this! Looks so fresh and tasty. Ideal for a summer new side x
Emily Leary says
Yes, it's perfect for a tasty summer's side dish or a complete meal in itself.
Danielle says
We love making green pasta sauces. It’s a great way to hide veggies for kids.
Emily Leary says
Yes, it can be a great way to hide veggies. Then the next time you make it, get the kids involved with popping all the ingredients into the food processor so that they can see what they’ve been enjoying!
Angela Ricardo Bethea says
Wow! This recipe looks really delicious and interesting to try. My hubby would love this for sure for our family dinner.
Emily Leary says
This recipe really is so tasty, and so quick and easy to make with everything going in the blender together! The book is lovely - well worth checking out.
Rhian westbury says
I love green pasta and this is very similar to something I usually make x
Emily Leary says
It's such a yummy recipe, and really quick and easy to make as everything goes into the blender together! The book is lovely - it's well worth checking out :)
Laura Dove says
Ooh this looks great and I love that I could convince my children to eat this 'magical green pasta' without them realising that actually it's amazingly healthy and good for them!
Emily Leary says
I love the idea of 'magical green pasta' :) It's such a tasty dish and so quick and easy to make with everything going into the blender together! The book is great - well worth checking out :)
Sarah Bailey says
I have to admit I've not had a completely green filled pasta sauce before but this sounds delicious and hands up I love that it is quick to make as I can't spend long in the kitchen.
Emily Leary says
This recipe for green pasta really is so tasty, and very quick and easy to make with everything going in the blender together! The book is lovely - it's well worth checking out.
Nichola - Globalmouse says
Gosh, this looks so good. I adore avocado so the idea of using it as the base for a pasta sauce is amazing. I need to try that!
Emily Leary says
It really is such a delicious recipe and it's so quick to make with everything going in the blender together! "Living on the Veg" is a lovely book - well worth checking out.
Jenni says
This sounds fab and I love the look of the book too. I will have to see if our library has it
Emily Leary says
Yes, it really is a delicious dish and it's so easy to make with all the ingredients (apart from the pasta!) going into the blender together."Living on the Veg" is a lovely book - well worth checking out.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Thanks for reviewing the book and trying one of the recipes Emily. I am so glad you liked both. Shared everywhere :)
Emily Leary says
Pleasure! Such a lovely book - well done to you both x
Midlife Singlemum says
I love this. So simple and gluten free.
Emily Leary says
Oh yes, the sauce is indeed gluten free and so easy to make :)