Nut-Free Pesto Pasta

Nut-free version of our favorite pasta, perfect for daycare or school lunch

My kids LOVE pesto. I don't blame them, it's delicious. I usually buy the Gotham Greens pre-made pesto (they have versions with and without cheese), but when my daughter started school I had to create a nut-free version she could bring for lunch. With loads of basil, you won't even miss the flavor of the pine nuts. You can put this on anything, or even add some lemon & vinegar to make it into a quick and tasty salad dressing.

I make this in a huge batch (usually 2x the recipe) and freeze individual portions in a large ice cube tray so I can easily pop one out and make a single serving of pasta for her lunch in the morning. I like to use chickpea or lentil pasta when serving to my kids for a boost in protein and fiber. Experiment with different brands as some are more 'pasta-like' than others. I also notice that most gluten free pastas require a few minutes of additional cook time to ensure it is soft enough for our littlest eaters.

Ingredients:

• 1 Clove garlic

• 2 Cups packed basil leaves

• 1/3 Cup olive oil, or more as needed

• 3Tbsp grated parmesan cheese

• Kosher salt & Ground pepper

• Chickpea pasta

Directions:

1. Fill a medium saucepan about 3/4 of the way with water and bring to a boil

2. Once boiling, add your pasta and cook per instructions on the package

3. In a blender combine garlic, basil, olive oil and parmesan cheese. Blend until combined and add more oil as needed to reach the desired consistency

4. Add salt & pepper to taste (start light on the salt as the parmesan cheese will add a lot of salty flavor)

5. Drain your pasta and add 2-3Tbsp of pesto, depending on how much pasta you make

6. Freeze the remaining pesto in ice cube trays for easy to use individual servings