• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Paleo Leap | Paleo diet Recipes & Tips
  • Recipes
    • Beef and Red Meat
    • Chicken and Poultry
    • Pork
    • Fish and Seafood
    • Eggs
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Sides, Veggies and Appetizers
    • Sauces, Dips & Vinaigrettes
    • Drinks
    • Sweets and Snacks
    • Cooking Tips
  • Learn
  • Your Starting Point
    • Topic Index
    • Paleo 101
    • Paleo Meal Plan
    • Paleo Food List
    • Transitioning to Paleo
    • Am I Doing it Right? - Checklist
    • Mini-Course for Beginners
  • Popular Topics
    • Recipes for Beginners
    • Breakfast Ideas
    • Homemade Condiments
    • Legumes
    • Wheat & Gluten
    • Dairy
    • Nightshades
  • More
    • Compilations
    • Foods
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Chicken
  • Pork
  • Snacks
  • Salads
  • Learn Paleo
  • Paleo Cooking Tips
  • Paleo Diet Foods
  • Paleo Recipe Compilations
  • Keto Diet Recipes
  • Paleo Beef and Red Meat Recipes
  • Paleo Drink Recipes
  • Paleo Egg Recipes
  • Paleo Fish and Seafood Recipes
  • Paleo Sauces and Dips
  • Paleo Sides, Veggies and Appetizers
  • Paleo Soup Recipes
  • Paleo Tips & Tricks
  • Paleo Topic Index
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Chicken
    • Pork
    • Snacks
    • Salads
    • Learn Paleo
    • Paleo Cooking Tips
    • Paleo Diet Foods
    • Paleo Recipe Compilations
    • Keto Diet Recipes
    • Paleo Beef and Red Meat Recipes
    • Paleo Drink Recipes
    • Paleo Egg Recipes
    • Paleo Fish and Seafood Recipes
    • Paleo Sauces and Dips
    • Paleo Sides, Veggies and Appetizers
    • Paleo Soup Recipes
    • Paleo Tips & Tricks
    • Paleo Topic Index
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Paleo Recipes

    Vegetables in a Creamy Pesto Sauce Recipe

    Last Modified: Jan 18, 2023 by Paleo Leaper · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Sharing is caring!

    406 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Reddit

    It’s true that being Paleo helps curve cravings once your body is attuned and receiving well-rounded nutrition, but sometimes you just miss certain not-so-Paleo-friendly dishes for all kinds of reasons. Pasta dishes are a prime example.

    After all, Alfredo, tomato-cream sauce, and garlic-parmesan sauce are absolutely delicious, and pasta is a great vehicle to carry those flavors. The thing is, you don’t need the wheat pasta to enjoy a good sauce!

    Vegetables in a Creamy Pesto Sauce

    Here we created a twist on a classic Italian dish by letting a variety of vegetables be the vehicle for a creamy pesto sauce. It's delicious and comforting with every bite.

    The vegetables we chose really lend themselves to the basil pesto, but really any vegetable can be used, so don’t be afraid to mix it up. Just be careful not to overcook whatever veggies you do choose.

    You’ll want them somewhat soft but still with a good bite left to them so they withstand being mixed into the creamy sauce.

    This is a vegetarian dish, but you can easily add shrimp, chicken, or any protein for that matter to make it into a full meal. We made zoodles out of the zucchini to play up the pasta theme, but you don’t have to.

    Then again, who doesn’t like to be able to nicely wrap up their meal around a fork for a perfectly nestled bite or slurp up the zoodles as you would spaghetti? Two thumbs up if anyone reenacts Lady and the Tramp.

    Vegetables in a Creamy Pesto Sauce Recipe

    SERVES: 4 PREP: 25 min COOK: 20 min

    Ingredients

    • 4 large zucchini, sliced or spiralized into zoodles
    • 2 carrots, sliced
    • 6-8 mushrooms, sliced
    • 2 yellow squash, sliced and halved if large
    • 2 cups fresh spinach, packed
    • 1 batch of Homemade Basil Pesto
    • 1⁄2 - 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
    • 1 tablespoon cooking fat
    • Juice of 1 lemon
    • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
    Vegetables in a Creamy Pesto Sauce Recipe Preparation

    Preparation

    1. Using a bamboo steamer or any steamer of your choice, steam the carrots, mushrooms, yellow squash, and zucchini if using sliced zucchini. This usually takes anywhere from 5-8 minutes, depending on the method of steaming.
    2. Do not overcook; you don’t want them to become mushy once added to the sauce.
    3. If making zoodles, add them to a colander and sprinkle them with salt; let them stand in the sink for at least 10 minutes to draw out some of the water. When ready, pat them dry with paper towels.
    4. While the vegetables are steaming, heat some cooking fat, coconut milk (start with a 1⁄2 cup), salt, and pepper to taste over medium-high heat until boiling.
    5. Turn down the heat to medium and add in the pesto and lemon juice, stirring until well incorporated. Taste, and adjust the seasoning or add additional coconut milk to your liking.
    6. Bring the sauce to a simmer and add the zoodles, if using, and gently mix with tongs; cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
    7. Next, add the spinach and cook until wilted.
    8. Add the remaining vegetables and gently mix. If you’d like, let the vegetables simmer in the sauce for a few minutes; just make sure they don’t overcook.
    9. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve warm.
    Vegetables in a Creamy Pesto Sauce Recipe

    Vegetables in a Creamy Pesto Sauce Recipe

    A simple vegetarian dish of steamed vegetables in a fresh and homemade basil pesto sauce.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 25 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 92 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 large zucchini sliced or spiralized into zoodles
    • 2 carrots sliced
    • 6-8 mushrooms sliced
    • 2 yellow squash sliced and halved if large
    • 2 cups fresh spinach packed
    • 1 batch of Homemade Basil Pesto
    • 1 ⁄2 – 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
    • 1 tablespoon cooking fat
    • Juice of 1 lemon
    • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Using a bamboo steamer or any steamer of your choice, steam the carrots, mushrooms, yellow squash, and zucchini if using sliced zucchini. This usually takes anywhere from 5-8 minutes, depending on the method of steaming.
      2 carrots, 6-8 mushrooms, 2 yellow squash, 4 large zucchini
    • Do not overcook; you don’t want them to become mushy once added to the sauce.
    • If making zoodles, add them to a colander and sprinkle them with salt; let them stand in the sink for at least 10 minutes to draw out some of the water. When ready, pat them dry with paper towels.
    • While the vegetables are steaming, heat some cooking fat, coconut milk (start with a 1⁄2 cup), salt, and pepper to taste over medium-high heat until boiling.
      1 ⁄2 – 1 cup full-fat coconut milk, 1 tablespoon cooking fat
    • Turn down the heat to medium and add in the pesto and lemon juice, stirring until well incorporated. Taste, and adjust the seasoning or add additional coconut milk to your liking.
      1 batch of Homemade Basil Pesto, Juice of 1 lemon, Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
    • Bring the sauce to a simmer and add the zoodles, if using, and gently mix with tongs; cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
    • Next, add the spinach and cook until wilted.
      2 cups fresh spinach
    • Add the remaining vegetables and gently mix. If you’d like, let the vegetables simmer in the sauce for a few minutes; just make sure they don’t overcook.
    • Transfer to a serving bowl and serve warm.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 92kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 5gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 0.02mgSodium: 40mgPotassium: 944mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 2689IUVitamin C: 56mgCalcium: 71mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword creamy, pesto sauce, vegetables
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Paleo Recipes

    • Coffee and Vanilla Bean Prime Roast
    • Roasted Veal Chops and Red Grapes
    • Veggies with Guacamole
    • Simple Paleo Meatloaf

    Sharing is caring!

    406 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Reddit

    Filed Under: Paleo Recipes, Paleo Sides, Veggies and Appetizers Tagged With: cooking: fast cook, cooking: fast prep, cooking: stovetop, diet: dairy-free, diet: egg-free, diet: no sweeteners, diet: shellfish-free, diet: vegan, diet: vegetarian, good for leftovers, Paleo Budget-Friendly Recipes, Paleo Dinner Recipes, Paleo Low-Carb Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    paleo leap square logo

    Hi, I'm Rick! Paleo Leap is the oldest and biggest resource online, covering everything about the paleo diet. We have over 1500 recipes categorized and plenty of meal plans for you to try.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Bacon-Wrapped Salmon Recipe
    • Almond Milk Custard Recipe
    • Flourless Banana Pancakes Recipe
    • Turban Squash Soup Recipe

    Recent Recipes:

    • Simple Beef Pot Roast Recipe
    • Lasagna with Zucchini Noodles
    • Chorizo Burgers with Fried Egg and Onions
    • Bean-Less Texas-Style Chili

    paleo leap square logo

    Hi, I'm Rick! Paleo Leap is the oldest and biggest resource online, covering everything about the paleo diet. We have over 1500 recipes categorized and plenty of meal plans for you to try.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Bacon-Wrapped Salmon Recipe
    • Almond Milk Custard Recipe
    • Flourless Banana Pancakes Recipe
    • Turban Squash Soup Recipe

    Recent Recipes:

    • Stuffed Bell Peppers with Tomato Sauce
    • Fresh Herb Meatballs
    • Paleo Spaghetti with Spaghetti Squash
    • Bacon and Marinara Meatloaf

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Cookie Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    For your information only. The statements on this website are merely opinions. Paleo Leap does not provide medical or nutritional advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Read the full disclaimer.

    Copyright © 2023 Paleo Leap