Vegan wholewheat spaghetti with beetroot pesto

Vegan wholewheat spaghetti with beetroot pesto: a hearty pasta recipe with beetroot, cashews, garlic, lemon and olive oil.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 10 min
• Cooking time: 12 min
• Total time: 22 min
• Calories: 480 kcal per serving
• Protein: 14 g
• Fat: 12 g
• Carbs: 75 g

Ingredients

• 1 small garlic clove
• 1 medium beetroot
• 1 small splash of lemon juice
• 100 g wholewheat spaghetti
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 30 g cashews
• Pepper
• Salt

Method

You’ll need: saucepan · stick blender · chopping board · knife · sieve

1. Peel the beetroot, cut it into pieces and cook it with the garlic clove until soft.
2. Meanwhile, cook the wholewheat spaghetti in salted water until al dente and save a little of the cooking water.
3. Blend the beetroot, garlic, cashews, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper until smooth. If needed, stir in a little cooking water to make it creamier.
4. Toss the beetroot pesto thoroughly with the drained wholewheat spaghetti until everything is evenly coated.
5. Season to taste with salt, pepper and a little lemon juice so the pesto tastes rounded and fresh.
6. Serve straight away, with a little extra pepper or a few roughly chopped cashews on top, if you like.

Good to know

When you want something savoury before training, this dish is pleasantly uncomplicated. Hearty, earthy, fresh and without any fuss.

Swaps

Cashews → walnuts (more omega-3 fatty acids) Wholewheat spaghetti → wholegrain lentil or chickpea pasta (more protein and fibre) Olive oil → avocado (also adds fibre and potassium, creamy texture without oil) Lemon juice → pomegranate vinegar or lime juice (more variety, a tangy, fresh flavour)

Allergens

Contains tree nuts (cashews) and gluten (wholewheat spaghetti). Garlic doesn't suit everyone equally well – including some children, some people in pregnancy and anyone with a sensitive stomach.

Frequently asked questions

Which nutrients does beetroot have in particular?

Beetroot mainly provides folate, potassium and small amounts of manganese. It also has natural plant pigments from the betalain group.

Does garlic suit you before training?

That's very individual. Garlic contains aromatic sulphur compounds, but with a sensitive stomach they can also feel heavy.

Why do cashews work well in the pesto, nutritionally?

Cashews bring unsaturated fatty acids and minerals such as magnesium, copper and iron. They also make the pesto creamy without any dairy.

What makes wholewheat spaghetti different from white pasta?

Wholewheat spaghetti contains more fibre and usually more magnesium, B vitamins and plant compounds from the outer layers of the grain. That's also why it tastes nuttier.

Is the lemon juice just there for flavour?

Mainly for freshness and balance, but it also provides a little vitamin C. A final squeeze lifts the earthy beetroot.

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