Hemp Seed & Pepita Pesto.
Try Mooi’s take on a high protein, plant based pesto. This pesto is great for a quick and easy week night dinner and can be used on anything from pasta (I recommend chickpea or lentil pasta to up your fibre and plant based protein intake), to pizza, to salmon. It can be stored in the fridge for up to a week and makes enough for multiple meals. Below are a few benefits of some of the superfood ingredients.
Hemp Seeds.
Rich in Omega 3s which have potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties promoting healthy skin, nerve function, and mental state.
Rich in high quality healthy fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
They are one of the few plant-based sources of a complete protein, meaning they contain all essential amino acids your body can’t make on its own.
Rich in both soluble and insoluble fibre to help support digestion.
Pepitas. (Pumpkin seeds)
One of the best food sources of magnesium, which many of us are deficient in. Supports more than 600 chemical reactions in the body including blood sugar regulation, heart health, and bone health.
Promote better sleep due to tryptophan (an amino acid), zinc and magnesium content. The zinc helps convert the tryptophan to serotonin and is then converted to melatonin which helps regulate sleep cycle.
Rich in antioxidants to help protect our bodies from disease and reduce inflammation.
Garlic.
Has potent medicinal properties due to its sulphur content. This sulphur content is also shown to help detoxify the body.
Supports the immune system and is shown to prevent and reduce severity of colds and flus.
Acts as a prebiotic to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut while helping to rid our guts of bad bacteria.
Basil.
Contains compounds that are shown to improve mental health by alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Has antibacterial properties, helping to fight bad bacteria in the body.
Shown to help protect the body against certain cancers.
Olive oil.
Proven to have more favourable effects on the body in comparison to other fats and can be associated with weight loss.
Has been shown to help protect the body from heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and strokes.
Contains large amounts of antioxidants which boost anti-inflammatory properties. Specifically, oleocanthal which has been shown to have similar anti-inflammatory effects to ibuprofen on the body.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the health benefits of the ingredients in this pesto. It is such a quick and easy way to up the nutrient level of your meal. Recipe below, enjoy!
Ingredients.
1/3 cup hemp seeds
1/3 cup raw pepitas
1 cup fresh basil
1-2 cups fresh spinach
1-2 cloves of garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
1-2 tbsp nutritional yeast
Salt and pepper to taste
Method.
In a food processor or blender combine all ingredients. Pulse until thoroughly combined into a pesto-like mixture. Serve on pasta, pizza, avocado toast, or salmon. Store up to 1 week in the fridge.
