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Appetites and Adventures

Vegan Spinach Pesto with Lentils [Recipe]

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The reset is going well.

Vegas is even feeling good today!

After our impressive display of gluttony in Greece, it’s been good to give our bodies a break and reset some habits.  We are almost a week in and things are looking good!

As the toxins leave your body, it can leave you achey, grumpy, and cause some acne.  We’ve hit that point.  Day 3 for me was rough.  I was tired and grouchy.  Most of the day I spent working from the bed.  Day 4 was the tough one for Vegas.  She had a headache all day and took her turn with the inability to get out of bed.

Bed

By Day 5 we were both doing well!  I’m used to cooking vegan meals now.  I love the challenge to be more creative in the kitchen; it’s actually fun!

(Side note: Remember that time I went vegan-ish?  That won’t be happening again after this cleanse… because bacon.)

That creativity inspired today’s strange but good recipe.  Dairy-free, nut-free, vegan pesto.  Yes, it is possible.  Yes, it really is good.  I also added some spinach to bulk it up both in serving size and nutritionally.

Vegan Spinach Pesto

A typical pesto uses olive oil.  I used MCT Oil.  Either one is good, but I was interested in the added benefits MCT provides.

MCT Oil Benefits

  • (Almost) Instant energy – unlike other fats, MCT is taken right to the liver where they act similar to carbs
  • May aid weight loss by increasing satiety and raising the metabolic rate
  • Enhances ketone production (ketones – brain fuel)
  • Improve blood sugar regulation
  • Help in restoring normal metabolic function

Vegan Spinach Pesto

This pesto would be good on anything.  I chose lentils because that’s one of our super-clean carb options.  And I like lentils.  Apparently Vegas likes them too because she had a confession to make yesterday: “Honey… I’ve been sneaking lentils.”  

Add that to things she never thought she’d say!

I’d pre-cooked the lentils to have for the week.  They’re good cold or warm, but we were in the mood for something warm.  To re-heat them, I briefly sautéed them in a pan with mushrooms, zucchini ribbons, carrots, spinach, and asparagus.  With just 30 seconds to go, I mixed in the pesto.

Vegan Spinach Pesto with Lentils

Vegan Spinach Pesto with Lentils

For the Pesto

  • 2 C spinach
  • 1/4 C Hemp Hearts
  • 1/4 C basil, packed
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 T MCT Oil (or olive oil)
  • Optional seasonings: sea salt, pepper, red pepper flakes

Place first 6 ingredients in a high speed blender or food processor and blend until it turns into a coarse meal.  

With processor running at a low speed, gradually add the MCT oil.  Pesto should still have texture and not be completely smooth.  Season with salt, pepper, and/or red pepper flakes, to taste.

For the Lentils

  • 2 C Beluga lentils, pre-cooked
  • 1 zucchini, spiralized
  • 1 carrot, shredded
  • 2 C spinach
  • 1 C mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 C asparagus, chopped

Place lentils and veggies in a skillet lightly greased with oil.  Sauté, stirring occasionally for 7-8 mins, until tender and warm.

Mix in pesto and allow to cook for ~30 secs.

Makes 4 servings.

How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week? The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above. In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends! Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.

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Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂



***

This took less than 10 mins.  Thank you, meal prep.

Do you use MCT oil?

For those who’ve done a detox, did you notice any  side-effects in the first few days?

Comments

  1. Yes to the gumpy, acne, headache sluggishness that comes with a detox– I’ve been there, but worth it when you reach the point where you get that clear euphoric energy! I love lentils!

  2. I love pesto. I should make it more often because it is so easy. I usually go traditional but This recipe sounds so good. And lentils! Love them!

  4. I love pesto so much but nearly all the store bought kind uses rapeseed oil… and I’m not a fan. But I do love me some MCT oil! Off to destroy one of mum’s basil plants… mwahahah…

    • I’ve never even pondered rapeseed oil. Except that it’s an unfortunate name…

  6. I quit coffee a few months back and was so surprised on how bad I felt in the week afterwards – crazy headaches and tiredness – oh I felt rough! I couldn’t believe the effect that caffeine was obviously having on my body. Now I only drink regular at the weekend or when away and stick to decaf during the week – seems to work the best for me and I’m not so dependant on it!

    • I use the NOW brand, but I think they’re all basically the same. Let me know if you try it out!

    • Thanks! I’ve been putting hemp on everything lately. I posted a raw red pepper soup with them last year, which made me think of using them here because they can add a level or creaminess when blended.

    • I’m the same way… mine were int he cabinet an embarrassingly long time. They travelled from ATL. LOL!

  12. pesto and lentils? pretty my husband would swoon all over this. and the grumpy face, that is me without coffee or wine too. whoops. thank goodness for kombucha and MCT oil magic

  13. This sounds amazing! I love lentil salads and pesto makes everything better!
    I have heard so many good things about MCT oil- I really need to try it.
    I am glad you guys are over the detox hump, so to speak 😉

  14. This looks so good! I love pesto & lentils. Never tried MCT oil… Interesting lol. When I did a detox I definitely noticed the grumpy…errr ugly coming out hahahah!! But after a while like u said u start to feel better. I need to do a detox soon-ish haha 😉

  16. Terrible side effects! I am grumpy and whiney and feel horrible. Always a reason to consider when detoxing ;-P
    I love the sound of this recipe. We both love lentils and the peasto sounds lovely, too! I am definitely going to try this!

    • Right?! At least I know by now it’s just 2-3 days and I actually feel better than before. 🙂

      Please let me know if you try it – I’d love to hear what you think!

  17. What kind of cleanse do you do? I tried once and it was NOT pleasant and I did NOT make it. Granted I was commuting 4 hours a day and worked 8 hours straight usually with limited breaks so it was no the best point in time to do that. I’m going to look into MCT oil, I use Olive Oil for just about everything and I love it. 🙂 Have a great weekend Laura! -iva

    • I do my own thing based on a couple of others I’ve done. Lots of whole, unprocessed foods and I eliminate basically all common allergens. It’s much easier than the juicing things!

    • Really?! They’re so good! I love them at Ethiopian restaurants too if you want to try them out first. 🙂

    • I would have never thought that would come out of her mouth… I thought she was going to tell me she was sneaking M&Ms!

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