Spring Vegetable Pasta Salad

Remember early on in May when we were all complaining about the cool weather? Well I was still enjoying my soup salad combo and then bang, the heat is on baby!  

Gravitating to lighter, cooler foods this time of year seems natural and seasonal. Many of us might notice appetites coming down and gravitating to fruits, frozen treats, picnic foods, dips and convenience. 

This spring veggie pasta is going to become your next go to meal or BBQ side dish. It’s fresh, includes some liver supportive veggies and because it’s cold pasta it’s high in resistant starch. Resistant starch is like a magic way to increase fiber. Increased fiber leads to feeling full faster, and longer

Makes 4 servings
30 Minutes

Ingredients

1 cup Basil Leaves (chopped)

2 cups Kale Leaves

1 Lemon (juiced)

1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 tsp Sea Salt

1/2 cup Sunflower Seeds

2 cups Asparagus

1 cup Frozen Peas (thawed)

1 cup Radishes (sliced into rounds)

4 cups Brown Rice Fusilli (cooked)

 

 

Directions

1. Create your pesto by combining basil, kale, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, sea salt and sunflower seeds together in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.

2. Trim the woody ends from the asparagus. Fill a pot with 2 cups water and a pinch of sea salt. Place on the stove and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer, add the asparagus and cover. Let cook for 3 minutes. Transfer asparagus out of the water and slice into 1 inch pieces.

3. Bring another pot of water to boil and cook brown rice fusilli as per the instructions on the package. Once cooked, strain and transfer to a bowl. Add in the asparagus, peas and radishes. Toss well with desired amount of pesto. Divide into bowls and enjoy!

Notes: For more protein, add grilled chicken or roasted chickpeas.

For 16 years, I’ve been helping people develop self-compassion, reduce critical thinking patterns, and find peace with food to carve out a wellness life that fosters joy.  Tapping and mindfulness practices like breathwork changed my life, and they are tools I use in my practice and in my cognitive restructuring program  Loving Kindness Method.  This program uses tools backed by science to restructure the brain and develop new thinking patterns that lead to positive behaviour changes. Book today!

Be well,

Lisa

 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is not meant to replace treatment with a licensed health care practitioner. It is for informational purposes only. Consult with a licensed health care professional to determine which treatments are safe for you.