Bright Lemon-Basil Pesto Pasta
Bright Lemon-Basil Pesto Pasta features a fresh, citrus-lifted pesto where basil and spinach blend with walnuts and Pecorino-Romano for a creamy, nutty finish. It’s light yet satisfying, with a clean garlicky snap and a silky coating on tender spaghetti. Ideal for a weeknight dinner or a springtime lunch when you’re craving something fresh and aromatic.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook15 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Bright Lemon-Basil Pesto Pasta, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 54 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 20 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityPoor
- 39 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 54
- Heart Health
- 71
- Metabolic
- 40
- Digestive
- 28
- Inflammatory
- 26
- Performance
- 36
- General Wellness
- 1
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until firm to the bite, about 12 minutes; drain. Move the spaghetti to a large bowl.
- 2
Place the cubed Romano cheese in a food processor; pulse until coarsely grated, about 30 seconds. Add the garlic to the processor and blend until the cheese and garlic are combined. Add the spinach, basil, walnuts, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt; process until it forms a thick paste. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
- 3
With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Keep processing until the oil is smoothly incorporated.
- 4
Pour the sauce over the spaghetti and toss to coat.
- Calories 567.07 kcal High 28%
- Protein 16.17 g Good Source 32%
- Carbohydrate 80.79 g 29%
- Total Fat 19.12 g High 25%
- Saturated Fat 5.16 g High 26%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 19.46 mg Moderate 6%
- Sodium 129.8 mg Moderate 6%
- Dietary Fiber 5.3 g Moderate 19%
- Total Sugars 1.95 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 299.22 mg Good Source 23%
- Iron 3.55 mg Moderate 20%
- Potassium 246.25 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin A 70.18 mcg Low Source 8%
- Vitamin C 23.59 mg Good Source 26%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
About This Recipe
Bright Lemon Basil Pesto Pasta is made with 10 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 30 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Baby Spinach, Cheese Cubes, Chopped Walnuts, and Fresh Basil. Each serving provides about 567.07 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Bright Lemon-Basil Pesto Pasta made of?
- The main ingredients are Baby Spinach, Cheese Cubes, Chopped Walnuts, Fresh Basil, Garlic. The full list of 10 is above.
- How long does it take to make Bright Lemon-Basil Pesto Pasta?
- About 30 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 567.07 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Bright Lemon-Basil Pesto Pasta easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 10 ingredients and 4 steps.
- Is Bright Lemon-Basil Pesto Pasta healthy?
- Bright Lemon-Basil Pesto Pasta has an easyChef Pro health score of 43/100. Per serving, it provides 567.07 calories and 16.17 g of protein, or 32% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 129.8 mg (6% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 5.16 g (26% of the Daily Value). It contains Tree Nuts, Milk, Wheat and Gluten, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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