We live in a world of many food substitutions these days and for so many good reasons. There is an all-time high of food allergies, food sensitivities, specific diets (vegan/pescatarian/keto/etc.) people choose or need to be following. How fortunate are we to have so many wonderful foods readily available to us – immediately at our local grocery stores, farm stands or even Amazon for that matter?
I love a recipe challenge and modifying to accommodate the family. Pesto has been a craving of mine for quite some time. Typically, it is made with either pine (pignolis) nuts, walnuts or almonds. Unfortunately, our daughter cannot have any of these due to her tree nut allergy. So, I was able to improvise with the good old-fashioned pumpkin seed. Who would think you could create a delicious pesto sauce with pumpkin seeds? I went digging through the pantry to see what I had on-hand and that bag of pumpkin seeds popped out at me. I was initially considering sunflower seeds, but we were out.
You have to admit that basil is the star of the pesto recipe, but the nutty factor is hugely important. The nutritional value has been taken up several notches with the pumpkin seed. Especially considering how high they are in zinc – which is hugely important for fighting the Coronavirus. Win-Win!!! It’s high in fiber, protein and filled with anti-oxidant rich vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Also, an excellent source of mono-unsaturated fatty acids – great for heart health.
This was a super simple and fast recipe to pull together. It was a big hit with the family and requested to be on the re-make dinner list. Bonus – super nutrient dense!
To access this recipe and many more healthy, fast options – click here:
https://christihealthcoach.com/recipes
Pumpkin Seed Pesto
Author: Christi Davis
Recipe type: Gluten Free / Dairy Free / Vegan
Yield: 4 Servings
Pesto Ingredients:
- 1 ½ Cups Basil Leaves
- ¼ Cup Pumpkin Seeds
- ¼ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2-3 Cloves Garlic (the more the better)
- Pinch of Himalayan Sea Salt
Pasta Ingredients:
- 1 – 12 oz. Package Gluten Free Brown Rice Pasta (I used Lundberg brand)
- 1 TBSP Garlic – Minced
- 1-2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ¼ Cup Organic Low Sodium Vegetable Broth
- 1 Cup Organic Grape Sized Tomatoes – quartered
- 1 ½ – 2 Cups Chopped Broccoli Florets
- ¾ Cup Sliced Baby Portabella Mushrooms
- ½ Teaspoon Himalayan Sea Salt
Instructions:
- In a mini food processor add pumpkin seeds, basil, garlic and salt.
- Slowly add olive oil until smooth. Set aside until veggies and pasta are ready.
- In the meantime, prepare gluten free brown rice pasta according to directions. Reserve ½ cup of the liquid before completely draining.
- In large/deep sauté pan, add olive oil. Warm up on medium heat.
- Add garlic and let cook 30-45 seconds – want it to turn slightly golden. Add tomatoes to pan and let cook 2 minutes.
- Add broccoli and cook 2 minutes. Then add mushrooms. Add 1-2 TBSP of pesto to pan and stir in with veggies.
- Season with sea salt and add vegetable broth to help soften veggies.
- Allow the broccoli to have a crunch still. Add reserved liquid, pasta and remaining pesto sauce to pan. Stir on low heat until all veggies and pasta are coated.
*Try and use all organic ingredients if possible.
What is holding you back from getting healthy? Is it all too overwhelming with the current climate of this crisis? My coaching advice to you – “Take it one day at a time”. As we are experiencing this crisis right now, your health is everything and without it, we have nothing.
Click Link Below for Free Coaching Video Series:
- Managing Stress During Coronavirus Pandemic
- How to Minimize Sugar And Improve Energy
- How to Boost Your Immune System & Combat Coronavirus
- Tips For Better Quality Sleep
- Beating Your Inner Resistance – Habit Change
- Reality of MS & Autoimmune Disease
- The State of Our Mental Health During the Covid Crisis
- Prevalence of Food Sensitivity & Determining If You Have One
- Tips & Tricks to Quarantine Weight Loss
- Going Into A Corona Summer
- Water as Medicine
- Overcoming Typical Diet Challenges
- How to Experience A Healthy Summer
- Intermittent Fasting for Fighting Inflammation
https://christihealthcoach.com/video-gallery/
ChristiHealthCoach.com Updates:
- Coming Soon:
- Interactive Group Forum – Discuss varied topics including tips on removing inflammation, weight loss, gaining energy and much more!
- Projected Launch Timeframe: Late July 2020
- My First Ever Online Program – 8 Week Program – Stop Suffering with Inflammation and learn to eat the Anti-Inflammatory Way. All with the added benefit of shedding some weight, gaining more energy, and getting a thriving life back!
- Projected Launch Timeframe: July 2020
- Interactive Group Forum – Discuss varied topics including tips on removing inflammation, weight loss, gaining energy and much more!
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Click here for the Amazon Link and get your copy today.
If anything, think about why you want to be healthy and the driving force to help you stay on track. Own it and START SHOWING UP FOR YOURSELF. Your future self will thank you!
Recipes
Check out my recipes here – the list will continue to grow.
How is YOUR health? If you still are not sure where to start, schedule a time to talk with me.
Let me help you stay on track and meet your goals and get in the best health of your life!
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Cheers To Your Health,
Coach Christi
