Food Recipes Zucchini Pesto Pasta 4.0 (9) Add your rating & review Here’s a fresh take on classic pesto—a zucchini-cashew version that might just become your new favorite. By Anna Theoktisto Updated on October 27, 2022 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Caitlin Bensel Hands On Time: 20 mins Total Time: 25 mins Yield: 4 serves Jump to Nutrition Facts This crowd-friendly vegetarian recipe will win raves at dinnertime. It’s especially good for kids that turn away from vegetables since the zucchini is mingling under the radar in the sauce. Keep a jar on hand for quick pastas, or for serving with grilled chicken or dolloping onto summer minestrone. Ingredients 1 zucchini, trimmed and shredded (about 1½ cups) 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves, plus more for serving 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (about ½ cup), plus more for serving ¼ cup roasted salted cashews ¼ cup olive oil, plus more for serving 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon) 1 small clove garlic 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for water 1 pound spaghetti ¼ cup whole-milk ricotta cheese Directions Place zucchini in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze to release as much water as possible. Transfer to a food processor or blender. Add basil, Parmesan, cashews, oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. Process until smooth. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil over high. Add pasta and cook according to package directions for al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup cooking water. Toss pasta and zucchini pesto in a large bowl, adding reserved cooking water as needed until creamy. Serve topped with ricotta, basil, Parmesan, and a drizzle of oil. Rate it Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 677 Calories 25g Fat 91g Carbs 21g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Calories 677 % Daily Value * Total Fat 25g 32% Cholesterol 17mg 6% Sodium 973mg 42% Total Carbohydrate 91g 33% Total Sugars 6g Protein 21g *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.