Cooking seasonally with what was is available. Cilantro pesto and backyard greens foraging pasta.

Backyard Foraging Pasta

A simple, grounding meal made from what’s already growing around you.

There’s something deeply regulating about cooking with what’s already around you.

For me it’s a ritual, it’s also what feels like home to me. When I’m in Gozo, I go to the field with my parents. My mom will harvest whatever is ready to be picked, then whip it into the most amazing meals. It’s not about what am I go going to cook to day but let’s see what’s available. The earth creates the recipie. It’s this beautiful process of connecting with nature, nurturing the plants and being nourished back with the most wholesome nurturing vegetables and fruits. Nothing goes to waste, the excess is dried or pickled for winter use. There’s gratitude for the food, for the earth and a deep understanding of what it takes to grow food. This Backyard Foraging Pasta isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection. Using humble greens like carrot tops, broccoli leaves, and fresh herbs, this dish transforms what is often overlooked into something nourishing, vibrant, and alive.

It’s light, silky, and full of plant intelligence—supporting digestion, calming the nervous system, and reminding us that healing doesn’t have to be complicated.

Ingredients

• Pasta of choice

• Olive oil

• 1 onion, thinly sliced

• 4 cloves garlic

• Handful lemon balm

• Handful carrot tops

• About 2 full cups baby kale

• Handful broccoli leaves, chopped

• Fresh oregano

• Fresh thyme

• Fresh basil

• Pinch dried marjoram

• Sea salt + black pepper

  
  

Optional:

• 1 zucchini, cubed and sauted in olive oil and Sam sea salt

• Homemade pesto (recipe below)

Instructions

1. Bring salted water to a boil and cook pasta 3 minutes less than directed

2. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain

3. In a pan, heat olive oil and sauté onion until soft

4. Add all greens + herbs and cook until wilted

5. Add pasta into the pan

6. Slowly add reserved pasta water, tossing until silky and fully cooked

7. Season with sea salt and pepper

Optional:

• Sauté zucchini separately until golden

• Top with pesto for extra depth

Why This Recipe Supports the Body

• Lemon balm supports nervous system regulation + gentle antiviral support

• Carrot tops + broccoli leaves → mineral-rich, support detox pathways

• Fresh herbs antimicrobial + anti-inflammatory

• Olive oil supports absorption of nutrients

• Simple cooking easier on digestion

Serving Suggestions

• Finish with fresh lemon zest

• Add toasted seeds or nuts for grounding

• Pair with grilled fish or enjoy as a plant-based meal

• Eat slowly—this dish is meant to be experienced, not rushed

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💚 A Gentle Reminder

Healing isn’t always about adding more.

Sometimes it’s about returning to what’s already here