Tallarines Verdes
If you've got spaghetti, fresh spinach and fresh basil leaves, you're most of the way to this Peruvian vegetarian: about 65 minutes of cooking across 6 steps. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 6 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for pan and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 6 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (7)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Chop the onion and garlic and saute them in the oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes until soft and sweet, then let them cool slightly.
- Blanch the spinach in boiling water for 30 seconds, drain and squeeze out the excess liquid so the sauce stays vivid green rather than watery.
- Soak the bread briefly in a little of the evaporated milk, then blend it with the spinach, basil, sauteed onion and garlic, walnuts, queso fresco and remaining milk into a smooth, thick green sauce.
- Pour the sauce into a wide pan and warm it gently over low heat for a few minutes, stirring so it does not catch, then season with salt and pepper.
- Cook the spaghetti in well-salted boiling water until al dente and reserve some pasta water before draining.
- Toss the pasta through the warm green sauce, adding a splash of pasta water to reach a creamy coating, and serve finished with grated parmesan.
You'll use: Pan · Saucepan · Blender
Ingredient substitutions
- Milk
- any unsweetened plant milk · ½ cup evaporated milk + ½ cup water
- Parmesan
- pecorino · grana padano · aged asiago
What to serve with Tallarines Verdes
- Aji de Gallina Chicken
- Anticuchos Beef
- Arroz Chaufa Chicken
- Carapulcra Chicken
Tips & common questions
How long does Tallarines Verdes take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 12 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of milk?
Try any unsweetened plant milk. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Tallarines Verdes vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Tallarines Verdes is an original Peruvian recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Tallarines verdes.jpg by Miguel Alan Córdova Silva, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.