Low Calorie Pesto Pasta Recipe
5 Oct
A great pesto pasta can pack in a lot of calories, mainly from the olive oil used. While olive oil is a very healthy oil, it can sometimes hinder weight loss because of its excessive calories. This is my favorite pesto recipe that I eat probably once a week for dinner or lunch. It’s very low calorie and is totally fat free. Instead of using olive oil, we can save a LOT of calories, simply by replacing the oil with almost zero calorie low-sodium chicken broth. The intense, delicious flavor is still present and you don’t have to feel guilty about the calories with this recipe. Perfect for lunch or as a side dish for dinner!
The health benefits of pesto are great; basil is great for healthy skin and intestinal issues.
This recipe makes one serving and is approximately 185 calorie per serving! Not to mention, this low calorie pesto pasta is fat free!
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of cooked pasta (I recommend whole wheat)
- 1 cup of sliced zucchini
- 2 Tbsp of chopped sun-dried tomatoes (NOT the kind packed in oil)
- ¼ cup of fresh basil leaves
- 1 tsp of minced garlic
- ¼ tsp of onion powder
- 2-3 tbsp of low sodium chicken broth
- 1 tsp of fat-free parmesan cheese
Directions:
- In a food processor or blender, combine the fresh basil leaves, garlic powder and onion powder and puree.
- Add your zucchini, chicken broth and cheese to the mixture.
- Puree.
- If necessary, add more chicken broth to create a better sauce consistency.
- Heat the sauce in the microwave.
- Pour over your cooked pasta and vegetables. (Sliced carrots, zucchini, artichokes, etc. your choice!)
- Sprinkle chopped sun-dried tomatoes on top.
- Enjoy!
Variations and notes:
- For even lower calories, forgo the pasta and just use sliced zucchini and carrots.
- For a great dinner, grill and slice a chicken breast and serve on top of the pasta.
- Not in the mood for pasta or veggies? Simply make the pesto and serve on grilled, toasted whole wheat bread for an awesome snack or accompaniment to any meal.
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Can someone tell me how many calories there are individually in this recipe? please reply ASAP, i need it for school. thanks!
Can I just say – ABSOLUTELY SUPERB! I made this for my by and I and even he loved it (very picky eater). I added chopped up grilled chicken and it made a great dinner.
Awesome recipe! Thanks so much…I LOVE pesto but it is so high in calories. Can’t wait to try it. Never heard of pesto without the oil, but of course that is where all the calories come from. This seems like it would be really flavorful, anyhow and has tons of my fav ingredients!!!