SUNSHINE HUMMUS PASTA with peppers and broccoli

If you like hummus, then you will have to give this recipe a try. I took this budget recipe from my Clean Eating magazine. It's an easy meal that is budget friendly, healthy, and low maintenance! The magazine states that the full recipe price is $8.19. (I'm sure my total cost was under that)  

Sunshine Hummus Pasta with Peppers and Broccoli

Recipe Source: Clean Eating Magazine

Ingredients:

• 8 oz whole grain spaghetti or linguini
• 1 15-oz can Organic Garbanzo (aka Chickpeas) Beans, drained and rinsed
• Juice 1 lemon
• 1 small clove garlic, cut into quarters
• ¼ cup unsalted sunflower seeds (raw or roasted)
• Pinch sea salt
• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 lb broccoli, stalks removed and discarded, florets quartered (i used organic frozen broccoli florets from Costco)
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced into long strips

1.    Prepare spaghetti according to package directions; drain and set aside.
2.    Meanwhile, prepare hummus:  Place beans, lemon juice, garlic, sunflower seeds, salt, and oil into a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.  If hummus seems too chunky, add 1 tbsp water and process again.
3.    Fill a medium pot with water and bring to a boil.  Add broccoli florets, reduce heat to medium and gently simmer for 3 minutes.  Add pepper and continue to simmer fro another 2 minutes.  Drain vegetables.  Toss pasta with vegetables and hummus and serve.

Nutrition facts per serving (4 servings per recipe):  426 calories, 10 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 4 g monounsaturated fat, 4 g polyunsaturated fat, 72 g carbohydrates, 6 g fiber, 4 g sugar, 17 g protein, 91 mg Sodium (WOW!), and 0 mg Cholesterol

Nutritional BONUS:  This recipe is meatless; however the grains and seeds provide all the essential amino acids to make it a complete protein!  Also, it contains 162% Vitamin C and 136% Manganese of your daily value!

CF NOTE:  I had to add a couple of tbps of water to the hummus.  I am in need of a larger food processor so I am guessing that is to blame. That's probably why my sauce wasn't as smooth as it should be(hence, the chunkier looking pasta pix)

KID APPROVED??? NO