From The Exclusive Collection of FREE Plant-Based Recipes
By Plant-Based Nutrition Professional Chef Susy • Designed For Effortless Weight Loss & Weight Maintenance
Creamy & Healthy Vegan Courgette (Zucchini) Pesto Pasta
Craving a creamy, healthy pasta? 🍝 This vegan courgette (zucchini) pesto pasta is the perfect dish! It's low-calorie and super easy to make🌱 Plus, it's gluten-free and takes only 20 minutes to prepare.
Prep Time: 20 Mins | Total Time: 20 Mins
Servings: Adjustable
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It is no secret that I love pesto in everything. It’s one of my go-to sauces—grain bowls, salads, sandwiches, pizza toppings, paninis… and the list goes on. You’ll always find it in my fridge.
Considering my love for pesto, I simply HAD to try this vegan courgette (zucchini) pesto pasta. And guess what? It turned out way more delicious than I expected. It was absolutely heavenly.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
Healthy
I find it a struggle to incorporate veggies into my daily routine sometimes. Don’t even get me started on the challenge of feeding kids their vegetables.
I was so happy when I created this vegan pesto pasta recipe. It’s a fun (and easy) way to incorporate courgette (zucchini), a nutrient-packed vegetable (sometimes called a fruit), basil, and cucumbers into your diet. The best part is, your kids won’t even realise they’re eating their veggies 😆
Gluten-Free
I’ll say it: gluten-free pasta sucks. But the courgette pasta is an exception. Believe me, it’s super satisfying and so delicious. Way beyond my expectations!
Low-Calorie
My courgette pesto pasta recipe is oil-free—and low-calorie. It’s perfect for those on a weight-loss journey or anyone craving a light yet fulfilling meal.
Simple
This recipe has zero cooking time. What’s better than not having to bear the heat of a hot stove in summertime? And, let’s not forget, the dish calls for only 9 ingredients and 20 minutes in the kitchen.
Recipe Ingredient Notes
Courgette (zucchini) - The basic ingredient. As an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, courgette is a much healthier option than traditional durum wheat semolina spaghetti. It also has a mildly sweet (and earthy) taste that enhances the overall flavour profile of the pasta.
Basil - Another essential ingredient, particularly valuable because of the incredible nutrients it adds. I’d recommend using fresh green leaves for the best taste.
Garlic - Brings a lovely finishing touch. Its strong, pungent taste pulls together the rest of the ingredients and enhances the overall flavours. Try using fresh garlic instead of powdered.
Cucumber - For a refreshing touch. I used English cucumbers, but other types, like Persian or Armenian, can also be used.
Pine nuts - A classic pesto pasta ingredient. Pine nuts add a crunchy bite—and, of course, incredible health benefits.
Nutritional yeast - Traditional pesto pasta uses parmesan cheese. But since we’re keeping the recipe vegan, I used nutritional yeast to replicate the authentic cheesy flavour.
Lemons - The secret ingredient for all pesto recipes. The acidity cuts through the richness of basil and creates the perfect flavour.
Himalayan pink salt - Serves the same purpose as table salt but with some extra trace minerals.
Black pepper - Rounds up flavours.
How to Make Vegan Courgette (Zucchini) Pesto Pasta
There are two parts to this recipe. Preparing the pesto sauce and making the zoodles (zucchini noodles).
Prepare the pesto. Begin by toasting the pine nuts in a frying pan or skillet on medium/high heat for a few minutes. Then, add all the ingredients (except the zucchini) to a high-speed blender. Blitz at high speed until the desired consistency is achieved. Note: I’ve got some additional pro tips and ingredient variations for the sauce on my pesto recipe card.
Prepare the zoodles. Use a spiralizer to spiralize the zucchini into ‘spaghetti’. Caution: Mind your fingers!
Combine the sauce and zoodles. Pour the pesto over the courgette (zucchini) spaghetti, toss, and enjoy 🥒🤤 Sprinkle the dish with your favourite toppings or pair the pasta with a delicious side.
Variations, Ideas & Notes
Add-ons
Cherry tomatoes
Spinach
Roasted red peppers
Tofu
Chickpeas
Pro Tips For This Recipe
You can use grilled or lightly roasted courgette (zucchini) if you don’t like it raw.
If you prefer a nut-free recipe, you can replace the nuts with pumpkin seeds.
I like toasting the nuts to add depth of flavour (and a slightly crunchy texture).
Don’t over-process the pesto, as it will result in a watery texture. Pulse the ingredients only until combined.
If you're new to spiralizing, practice on a few zucchinis before adding them to your recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cut courgette (zucchini) into spaghetti?
The most common method is to use a spiral to transform the courgette (zucchini) into strands. Simply insert the vegetable, roll, and shoot out the spaghetti. You can also use—
A food processor (quickest & safest way to slice the zucchini into thin pieces).
A mandoline slicer (needs sharp attention, or you might cut a finger).
A vegetable peeler (cheap fix to peel the vegetable into thin ribbons).
Why are my noodles soggy?
This is usually because of the excess moisture in the noodles. To avoid the problem, pat the zucchini noodles dry with a clean dish rag to remove moisture.
Do you have to cook courgette (zucchini) for pesto pasta?
Nope. You simply have to shred the pasta into a spaghetti-like texture. Pat dry the extra moisture, and it’s ready to be mixed with the sauce.
How to serve courgette (zucchini) pasta?
Pair your plant-based courgette pesto with—
Roasted vegetables
Sautéed or air fried tofu
Garlic bread
Drinks you can serve with pesto pasta—
Full makeover smoothie
Iced tea
How to store vegan courgette pesto pasta?
Store the pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for a week. Tip: Pour a layer of cold-pressed virgin olive oil on top of the pesto to help keep it fresher for longer.
What can you serve pesto with?
The most obvious one is pasta! You can also use pesto as a topping for pizza or a dip for chilli bean burritos. It’s also a delicious addition to plant-based charcuterie boards.
If You Like This Recipe, You Might Also Like…
Final Words
Please share with us how it turned out. Leave a comment or give a rating 🌟 And if you’ve captured aesthetic courgette (zucchini) pesto pasta pictures, don’t forget to share ‘em on Instagram and tag me @vegan.susy
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