Green goddess pasta
Comfort food with a little bit of health thrown in
I came up with this recipe in January, because it’s that strange, limbo-like time of year when everyone suddenly feels the pressure to eat healthier, but it’s sooooo hard because the weather is absolutely grim and the idea of living off sad salads and detox juices makes me want to cry. I’m all for balance, but January is not the month I suddenly become a different person. It’s the month where I might throw in a couple extra veggies and herbs.
And that’s not to say I won’t eat well normally, I just refuse to eat joylessly. After the heaps of potatoes, roast dinners and festive beige foods I inhaled over Christmas, I naturally start leaning towards meals that feel a bit lighter, a bit fresher, but still comforting enough to get me through those dark evenings. And that’s exactly where this green goddess pasta comes in.
Green goddess?
This dish is packed with goodness thanks to the vibrant green sauce, so think fresh herbs, spinach, creamy cheese and a hit of brightness that instantly makes you feel like you’re doing something good for yourself. But crucially, it’s still built around a big, comforting bowl of pasta. Because I simply cannot, and will not, do meals without carbs. Give this girl a potato, a bit of bread or a bowl of pasta any day of the week.
The sauce is light yet creamy, fresh but filling, and coats the pasta beautifully so every bite feels satisfying. It’s the kind of meal that leaves you full, happy and not rummaging through the cupboards an hour later looking for snacks.
Firm family favourite (including the fussy ones)
This is also a super good one for the whole family. There’s something oddly exciting about a green sauce, especially for kids, and even more exciting for parents when you realise little ones are happily eating a good chunk of their five-a-day without questioning it. A win is a win and this is a big win.
If you’re into your carby greenery, you’ll also love my green goddess potato salad, which is an exclusive from my Potato Book. Because of course I had to put a potato spin on it, and no, I have absolutely no regrets because it’s that good.
Green goddess pasta
By Poppy Cooks
https://www.poppycooks.com/recipes/green-goddess-pasta/
Ingredients
- 100g frozen spinach, defrosted
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
- Bunch of soft herbs - I used chives, parsley, tarragon and oregano
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 vegetable stock cube
- 200ml water
- 200g mascarpone cheese
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 400g tagliatelle pasta, cooked
- 200g bacon lardons (optional), cooked and crispy
- Parmesan cheese, to serve
- Salt and pepper to taste
Metric
Imperial
Instructions
- Tip the spinach, garlic, herbs, olive oil, stock cube, water and a large pinch of salt and pepper into a small blender and blitz until a smooth green sauce.
- Pour the sauce into a large pan and stir in the mascarpone. Place over a medium low heat and whisk until combined, then season to taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice.
- Stir the pasta into the sauce, adding a little of the pasta water to thin it out. Serve up bowls of pasta, topped with bacon lardons if using and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese.