This creamy broccoli bean pasta is all about those greens and beans. Broccoli and spinach are blended with white beans to make a hearty green sauce that is perfect on some pasta.
Jump to RecipeBeans and greens are becoming my words of the year and they’re both in this creamy broccoli bean pasta. Pasta is one of the harder things to find vegan options for at restaurants because I usually don’t love paying for marinara when there are so many ways to make more interesting dishes at home.
For this one, we’re blending the broccoli (with the stem!) and spinach with white beans to make the sauce creamy, nutritional yeast, red chili flakes, and lemon juice. Some basil would be great in this in the summer. And if you want more texture, maybe some mushrooms, roasted broccoli, or toasted walnuts. This recipe makes quite a bit of sauce so I’ve been switching it up every time!
Creamy Broccoli Bean Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 oz. pasta of choice, prepared al dente
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 shallot, sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large head of broccoli
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 14 oz. can of white beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ tsp red chili flakes
- salt and pepper
- walnuts for topping
Instructions
- Prepare pasta al dente according to package instructions and save a cup of pasta water!
- Heat olive oil in a pot large enough to fit all the broccoli. Add the shallot an garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Add broccoli and stir frequently for 2-3 minutes. Add enough water to just cover the broccoli. Bring to a slow simmer before covering with the lid and reducing heat to medium-low. Simmer until broccoli is tender – 10-15 minutes. Add spinach and let it wilt. Drain and let it all cool off a little.
- Process with the rest of the ingredients: white beans, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Add a little water to help with blending and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the sauce in a pan and thin it with some pasta water until it's creamy enough to coat the pasta. Add the pasta.
- Finish with toasted walnuts and red pepper flakes. If you want more texture, perhaps some mushrooms or roasted broccoli!
If you like this creamy green pasta, check out these:
Herby Lemon Broccoli Spaghetti