Lighter Spinach Pesto Sauce 🌿🍝

Description:

This Lighter Spinach Pesto Sauce is a delightful twist on the traditional pesto, boasting a vibrant green hue and a zesty kick from picante sauce. With significantly less oil than its classic counterpart, this sauce is both lighter and bursting with flavor. It’s the perfect way to elevate your pasta dishes or as a spread for sandwiches and wraps.

Nutritional Information:

• Calories: 132.9
• Fat Content: 10.5g
• Saturated Fat Content: 3.1g
• Cholesterol Content: 11mg
• Sodium Content: 492.9mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 4.8g
• Fiber Content: 1.1g
• Sugar Content: 1.7g
• Protein Content: 6.1g

Recipe Information:

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Servings: 4
• Recipe Category: Sauces
• Keywords: Spinach, Greens, Vegetable, European, High In…, < 15 Mins, Small Appliance, Easy

Ingredients:

• 1 2/3 cups fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic
• 3/4 cup picante sauce (divided)

Instructions:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Prep Ingredients:
   Start by gathering all your ingredients. Rinse the fresh spinach thoroughly and pat dry using paper towels. Grate the parmesan cheese if not already grated. Peel and crush the garlic cloves.

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2. Reserve Picante Sauce:
   Measure out 1/2 cup of picante sauce and set it aside for later use.

3. Blend Ingredients:
   In a blender or food processor, combine the fresh spinach, parmesan cheese, olive oil, and garlic cloves. Blend until you achieve a smooth and creamy consistency.

4. Add Picante Sauce:
   Once the ingredients are well blended, fold in the remaining 1/4 cup of picante sauce. This adds a spicy kick and extra flavor to the pesto sauce.

5. Mix with Pasta:
   Cook your favorite pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and transfer it to a mixing bowl. Pour the prepared spinach pesto sauce over the hot pasta and toss until evenly coated.

6. Chill if Desired:
   If not serving immediately, cover the pasta with pesto sauce and refrigerate until ready to use. This allows the flavors to meld together even further.

7. Serve and Enjoy:
   When ready to serve, portion the pasta into individual bowls or plates. Garnish with additional parmesan cheese or fresh herbs if desired. Enjoy this lighter spinach pesto sauce with your favorite pasta dishes, sandwiches, or wraps!

Tips and Variations:

• Add Nuts: For added texture and flavor, consider adding toasted pine nuts or walnuts to the pesto sauce.
• Adjust Spice Level: Depending on your preference, you can increase or decrease the amount of picante sauce to control the level of spiciness.
• Make it Vegan: Substitute the parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast for a vegan-friendly version of this sauce.
• Freeze for Later: This pesto sauce freezes well. Transfer it to ice cube trays and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer the pesto cubes to a freezer bag for long-term storage. Thaw as needed and enjoy!

This Lighter Spinach Pesto Sauce recipe is not only quick and easy to make but also incredibly versatile. Whether tossed with pasta, spread on sandwiches, or used as a dip, its vibrant flavors are sure to impress. Give it a try and elevate your meals with this delicious spin on classic pesto!