I know, back-to-back pasta sauces. But you see, it’s hot out. We need these sauces.
In the winter, it’s easy to make dinner for a big group of friends. You pop a pot on the stove and make a big batch of lemon basil marinara sauce or kalamata olive marinara sauce with your favorite pasta and you call it a day. In the summer, if you don’t have a grill or outdoor space your options are fairly limited.
Pasta is a cheap, easy way to feed a crowd but homemade sauces usually involve an open flame and when you have a dozen people in your apartment, the last thing you probably want is to be in the kitchen, sweating to the tune of a hot stove and oven.
Pesto is a perfect fix for summer entertaining because it’s simple, elegant and a little bit goes a long way – one batch will dress up to 2 pounds of pasta and if you don’t use it all, you can freeze individual 2-tablespoon portions in an ice cube tray for weeknight dinners.
This pesto is a little bit different than traditional pesto sauces that combine herbs, cheese and nuts for flavor. The base of this pesto is spinach and white beans, inspired by a dip recipe that I noticed in a magazine. It’s thicker than most pesto sauces, but also more filling and nutritious.
Spinach & White Bean Pesto Sauce
What You Need:
1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
1 15.5-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed
2 1/2 cups spinach
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly torn
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons ricotta cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 black pepper
Cooked pasta of your choice
How-To:
In a food processor, combine the garlic oil, beans, spinach, dill, and lemon juice. Season with ¾ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper and puree until smooth. Serve over your favorite cooked pasta. Makes about 10 servings. To freeze: place in ice cube trays or a freezer safe container for up to a month.
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{ 51 comments… read them below or add one }
Pesto is awesome. And I love using it on sandwiches as well! The white beans are a great add in.
I love pesto sauce of any kind!
White beans are truly one the most versatile beans. It makes a delicious snack or side dish and is so nutritious. Never actually put them in pesto but why the heck not!
I love a unique pasta sauce–and anything that uses up basil is great in my book—my plant is out of control!
What a great idea to use the beans! I will definitely be making this soon.
I love the idea of adding white beans! Good way to add in more fiber, protein, and make it creamier
Keep the pasta sauces coming, Maris. Each one is different and delicious. I really like the bean and spinach mixture!
Oh yum this sounds great!
Love this!
Holy yum. That looks delish!! I usually take 1 day off each week from being dairy free – this might need to be my dairy vacation recipe one of these weeks!
What on earth is wrong with back to back pasta recipes. I love it!
Mmm, I love white bean anything!
Perfect meal! Mmhmm…Pasta….
Hi Maris, ooooh…this looks delicous, healthy, economical and easy. In other words, a perfect dish!! Thanks as always for another stellar recipe. Have a great Friday!!!
This may have to go on the list of things you will make me next time you are home.
Excellent combination and so healthy. Just stumbled across your blog. This gets bookmarked
Never thought to add beans inbto my pesto, that opens many new doors.
Love this variation! I’m thinking I can get away with this one since the beans are unnoticeable…Frank will never know!
What a unique pesto! I love it.
I love sauces! So versatile and adaptable. Great recipe!
This sounds fantastic! I am loving all the sauce recipes. I could eat pasta every day in every season with options like this
I love that this pesto has spinach and beans in it. Two of my favorite things!
Sounds delish!
You can never have enough weeknight meals – and this is a great one!
This is a much healthier version of pesto Maris yet I can see how it is still flavoursome!
What a great way to use white beans! My husband is the pasta fan in the house and I like it okay…but it needs to have something other than the traditional sauce to make it interesting for me. This sauce will work beautifully for that. Love it!
Pasta sauces are never too much. love your idea , looks delicious
What an interesting and delicious sounding pesto. I’ll be trying this recipe for sure.
I love simple, hearty, healthy dishes like this. SO easy to whip up. Alot of bang for the effort. Thanks Maris! ♥- Katrina
An excellent sauce – the combination of spinach and white beans sounds very tasty with pasta!
I am wholeheartedly in LOVE with this recipe. I can’t wait to make this for my book club. My friends will go crazy! So glad you shared it.
Sounds great, what a lovely take on a classic, and I love the fact it uses beans.
Pesto pasta is a favorite of mine! I haven’t had it in ages. i’ve never tried making it with beans though! Sounds like a delicious change.
Pesto is one of my favourite sauces for pasta and I this variation looks fab! Thanks for sharing your great ideas! Jenny
I make a basil bean puree with butterbeans that I love but I never thought of making it into a pasta sauce. Will give it a try next time with some rocket I think, thanks!!
wow very cool and inventive recipe and great for protein
my three year old loves pesto. I have to try this recipe, let me see if she like it…thanks for sharing..
Oh this sounds excellent! I must try this one, Maris! I love it… I think I have all the ingredients right now… Maybe for lunch! Thanks for sharing
What a delicious pesto! I really like the idea of using cannellini beans in it!
Pasta is my favorite meal
It goes good with everything! 
A great new take on pesto – and nice that you can keep most of the ingredients on hand for a last minute gathering.
There’s nothing wrong with a good pasta sauce! Home made too, and yes that does look really nutritious!
Love, love, love pesto and your version with beans looks fabulous! I will definitely have to try the ice cube trick-have a friend that does that too, but I’ve never tried it. Try and stay cool
Love the use of beans in this, a nice healthy meal on a hot night.
This sounds really good! I am just know starting to like stuff with spinach in it. So I am interested and would love to try this!! Thanks for sharing!!
Maris…I love the idea of a spinach pesto….and in getting away from traditional tomato sauces in general! This looks delish. (Love the beans, too!)
New to your blog and love it…I want to make it all! Can’t wait to gather more great recipes to try!!
I like your pesto, it’s like a cross between a hummus and a pesto but much lower in calories and high in proten and fiber! My kind of recipe! Mmmm!
oh man, i need this in my life. this looks so simple, yet delicious! the best kind of sauce, haha.
this is fabulous! some of my favorite flavors are hanging out here
this looks delicous and healthy thanks for sharing :O)
This sounds delicious, Maris, and I have some rampant basil in the garden right now!
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