Easy Gluten Free Pesto Pasta

Easy Gluten Free Pesto Pasta is a quick, nutrient-dense Italian dish. It’s filled with protein, healthy fats, fiber, and complex carbohydrates to keep you full and energized!

In case you didn’t know, I’m 50% Italian, 25% Maltese, and 25% Irish. Given my Italian and Maltese heritage, I love a hearty, warm bowl of delicious pasta! Although, regardless of my heritage, I’m pretty confident Italian food is one of the best cuisines of all time. Right? Since I eat a gluten free (and primarily dairy free) diet, enjoying pasta isn’t a frequent occasion for me. That is, until I discovered the deliciousness of chickpea pasta! Have you tried it before?

Is this Easy Gluten Free Pesto Pasta healthy?

This dish is made using nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory ingredients. So, in my professional and personal opinion, yes, it’s healthy! Here’s why:

• Chickpea Pasta

I use Banza chickpea pasta, which is made with 4 total ingredients. As opposed to traditional pasta, it contains much more fiber and protein, but less carbohydrates. 

• Beef or Turkey

Using high quality ground beef or turkey adds even more protein to this meal. Plus, it adds a healthy source of animal fats, which are essential for hormone function, satiety, and more!

• Olive Oil

Keep reading to learn why I specifically use olive oil in this recipe.

• Pesto (Basil, Garlic, & More Olive Oil)

This homemade, simple, chunky pesto is made with only 3 ingredients- all of which help lower inflammation and provide a delicious Italian flavor and aroma. It’s also gluten and dairy free!

 

Why I Use Olive Oil in this Recipe

1. Up until recently, my cooking fat of choice was ghee, or sometimes, coconut oil or avocado oil. Why? Because these oils are highly stable, even under high temperatures. During cooking or baking, the composition of these saturated fats don’t change. They maintain their essential nutrients and don’t easily turn toxic. Due to the polyunsaturated content in olive oil, I’ve always understood that it’s best to use in it’s raw form, or possibly, for very light cooking. Why? Because polyunsaturated oils, including the linoleic acid found in olive oil, are vulnerable to oxidation. However, my eyes were recently opened to the health benefits of olive oil, even when used in cooking!

According to Dr. Sarah Ballyntine of The Paleo Mom, “Across the board, the research shows that even with a fair amount of heat exposure, extra virgin olive oil resists oxidation better than many other cooking oils. In one study, it took over 24 hours (a day straight!) of frying before olive oil generated enough polar compounds to be considered harmful. In another study, even after 36 hours of cooking, olive oil had retained most of its beneficial vitamin E content.” It’s important to note that, when using olive oil for cooking, you should always opt for unrefined extra virgin olive oil (as opposed to it’s refined alternative). 

2. Not only has olive oil proved it’s ability to maintain integrity during cooking (up to 410F), it also contains highly biodiverse bacteria. This biodiversity promotes greater diversity in the gut microbiome, which has been known to decrease inflammation, improve metabolic function, and support overall gut health. After all, we know that gut health is linked to every other aspect of health (skin, immune, heart, etc), so give me all the olive oil!

3. Olive oil goes hand-in-hand with Italian food. Plain and simple. It’s unique flavor profile- bitter, yet pleasant- is necessary for Italian cooking. Just ask my Italian grandmother!

How to Make Easy Gluten Free Pesto Pasta

To make this recipe, follow these easy directions:

Pesto

1. Add the chopped basil, garlic, spinach, and olive oil to a bowl. Combine and set aside. 

Gluten Free Pasta

1. Boil water in a pot. Add pasta and boil, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes. 

Everything Else

1. Add 1 tbs olive oil to a large skillet. Over medium heat, saute the asparagus, squash, and onion until almost cooked (about 5-6 minutes). Add 1 more tbs olive oil to the skillet and add ground meat. Cook until the meat is cooked through. 
2. Add the pesto and pasta to the skillet. Mix well.
3. Serve warm! If desired, top with shredded parmesan cheese and chili flakes.

 

Easy Gluten Free Pesto Pasta

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Easy Gluten Free Pesto Pasta is a quick, nutrient-dense Italian dish. It's filled with protein, healthy fats, fiber, and complex carbohydrates to keep you full and energized!

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Ingredients

• 2 tbs olive oil, divided
• 1 lb ground meat (turkey or beef)
• 10 ounces Banza Pasta, or GF pasta of choice
• 1 cup chopped asparagus
• 1 cup chopped yellow squash
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion

Pesto

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1 cup chopped spinach, frozen or fresh
• 3 tbs extra virgin olive oil
• 2-4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

Instructions

1. Combine all the pesto ingredients and set aside.
2. In a large pot, boil water and cook your pasta according to the box instructions. Set aside.
3. Add half of your olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, aspsaragus, and squash. Saute until almost cooked through, about 5-6 minutes.
4. Add the remaining olive oil and add the ground meat. Cook over medium heat or until thoroughly cooked.
5. Add the pasta and pesto to the skillet. Mix well.
6. Serve warm! If desired, top with shredded parmesan cheese and chili flakes.