Super Green Pasta

Even in prosperous times, it’s helpful to have certain go-to meals that won’t break the bank. Low-income families have had a hard time, for decades, finding a balance between healthful cooking and affordability.

I created this to help people eat nutritious vegan meals despite the rising cost of living.

Why You’ll Adore This Dish

• The recipe only calls for eight simple things, like garlic and salt, that you probably already have in your kitchen. Still, it’s incredible how much flavor comes from such little components.
• When I went grocery shopping, I paid $9.41 and ended up with more than enough ingredients for four servings. This doesn’t include the spices I already had on hand, but I only used about a fifth of the sunflower seeds and half of the greens.
• If you already know how to cook some of these inexpensive meals, you can cut your grocery bill in half.
• This dish is a SNAP to make! It’s great for amateurs, those with limited space, and pros always on the go. You’ll quickly be telling all your loved ones and acquaintances about it.

Ingredients:

• 453g of whole wheat spaghetti
• 2 tsp of salt
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 4 cups of de-stemmed curly kale
• ¼ cup of sunflower seeds, boiled for 10 minutes or soaked overnight
• 150g of frozen or 4 cups of fresh spinach
• 1 cup of pasta water
• 4 tbsp of nutritional yeast

Instructions:

1. Add kale, spinach, and garlic to a large saucepan of boiling salted water. Blanch for 4 minutes or until the green color is restored.
2. Transfer the greens and garlic to a blender cup using a slotted spoon or a colander.
3. Save 1 1/2 cups of pasta water and cook the spaghetti according to the package directions in the remaining saucepan of boiling water.
4. Salt, lemon juice, sunflower seeds, nutritional yeast, and the pasta water you set aside should also be added to the blender. Blend together completely to make a sauce.
5. Combine the sauce, cooked pasta, and additional pasta water in a pan.
6. Before serving, season the coated spaghetti with more crushed sunflower seeds, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to taste.