• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Veggie Desserts
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegan Cake and Desserts
    • Vegan Dinner
    • Vegan Breakfast
    • Vegan Guides
  • Cookbook
    • About My Cookbook
    • Buy Veggie Desserts + Cakes
  • About Me
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Press
    • Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram Posts
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • About Me
  • Cookbook
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • About Me
  • Cookbook
×
Home » Recipes » Dinner

Spaghetti with Kale and Lemon (10 mins, vegan)

Published: Feb 26, 2016 · Modified: Apr 14, 2020 by Kate Hackworthy · 43 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This spaghetti with kale and asparagus is fresh and vibrant with chilli and fresh lemon. It's a super-quick veg-packed meal that comes together in ten minutes.

A bowl of spaghetti with asparagus, chilli and lemon on a wooden table.

vegan pasta

This spaghetti with kale and asparagus is one of those meals that you can have up your sleeve to throw together at the last minute.

It's faster than a microwave meal, filling and packed with vegetables.

With minimal prep, you can have dinner on the table in ten minutes, without compromising on flavour.

Plus, you can adapt the green veggies to what's in season, or what you have in your fridge or freezer.

Spinach, spring greens or watercress would all work well.

A table with spaghetti, garlic, kale, lemon and chilli.

Frozen veg

For this recipe, I used frozen chopped kale, frozen asparagus, frozen chopped garlic and frozen chopped chilli. They're just so handy when fresh veggies aren't available. 

I added spelt spaghetti and half a lemon for a super-quick, healthy midweek meal.

You can easily substitute fresh ingredients for any of the frozen ones.

There are a few ingredients that I always have in my freezer: chopped garlic, chopped spinach and peeled bananas (for my morning smoothies).

They make life easier and mean that I can throw meals together quickly, even when I think I don't have any food in the house.

 

A bowl of spaghetti with asparagus, chilli and lemon on a wooden table.

📖 Recipe

A bowl of spaghetti with asparagus, chilli and lemon on a wooden table.

Spaghetti with Kale, Asparagus, Chilli and Lemon

Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
This spaghetti with kale and asparagus is fresh and vibrant with chilli and fresh lemon. It's a super-quick veg-packed meal that comes together in ten minutes.
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
SaveSaved!
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Main
Cuisine Italian
Servings 2
Calories 336 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 4 oz (100g) spaghetti
  • 2 cups kale chopped
  • 8 spears of asparagus fresh or frozen
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
  • 1 teaspoon chopped red chilli or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • juice of ½ a lemon
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • salt and pepper

Instructions
 

  • Put a pan of water on to boil and cook the spaghetti according to packet instructions. Steam the asparagus in a colander over the pasta for a few minutes until cooked, then remove and cut into bite-sized pieces.
  • In a frying pan, heat the oil over a medium heat then add the garlic and chilli and cook for a minute, then add the kale and saute for a few minutes until cooked through. If using frozen kale, ensure it is all thawed.
  • Add the cooked spaghetti to a serving dish with the kale and asparagus, drizzle with the lemon juice, olive oil and lemon zest and toss all ingredients together and season.
  • Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 336kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 12gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 30mgPotassium: 585mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 7177IUVitamin C: 85mgCalcium: 128mgIron: 3mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

 

 

 

 

 

More Dinner Recipes

  • Looking down at a wooden table with a serving dish of sweet potato black eye peas salad with peanut dressing.
    Sweet Potato Black Eyed Peas Salad with Peanut Dressing
  • Close up of a plate of red lentil dahl with rice and spinach.
    The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
  • A wooden table with a serving dish of Korean gochujang mac n cheese, topped with kimchi.
    Gochujang Mac and Cheese
  • Wooden table with a bowl of swede soup on a striped napkin.
    Swede Soup (Rutabaga)
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 4 votes

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Tom

    August 19, 2018 at 11:04 pm

    5 stars
    Nice recipe Kate. So easy. I used fresh kale and asparagus, but good to know frozen work too. Simple and delicious.

    Reply
  2. Raschell

    August 16, 2018 at 12:12 am

    5 stars
    This looks wonderful and I just happened to have all the ingredients too! A delicious recipe.

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth

    March 09, 2016 at 10:50 am

    Oh my goodness this sounds AMAZING and so simple too! Thank you for sharing with the no waste food challenge 🙂

    Reply
  4. Chris @thinlyspread

    March 02, 2016 at 10:07 am

    I had no idea you could get frozen kale! How fab and brilliant for suppers in a hurry (with 4 kids all arriving home at different times this is essential!), I'll be popping to Iceland ASAP!

    Reply
  5. Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche

    March 02, 2016 at 9:18 am

    Love the look of this! You really can't beat a super quick and easy pasta dish, especially when it's as flavourful as this. Sounds yummy! I definitely need to try the frozen kale, what a brilliant idea.

    Reply
  6. Lucie Bright (@BCTinyKitchen)

    March 01, 2016 at 8:04 am

    Your photography is gorgeous! This dish looks delicious and super simple.

    Reply
  7. fabfood4all

    March 01, 2016 at 12:08 am

    This looks totally delicious, love all the flavours here Katherine. I haven't seen frozen kale before so will look out for that! Thanks for entering #CreditCrunchMunch this month:-)

    Reply
  8. Sarah | Well and Full

    February 29, 2016 at 9:28 pm

    I love cooking with frozen foods! It's so cost-effective, and everything lasts so long in the freezer! 😀

    Reply
  9. Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy

    February 29, 2016 at 5:16 pm

    Loving the look of this fresh pasta dish.

    Reply
  10. Chris @ Simple Food 365

    February 29, 2016 at 3:34 pm

    I love light dishes like this that are so packed with flavors! Looks great.

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      February 29, 2016 at 4:48 pm

      Thanks Chris, sometimes the simplest dishes are the best 🙂

      Reply
  11. Ali @ Home & Plate

    February 29, 2016 at 1:54 pm

    What a healthy way to eat your spaghetti. I think the addition of the chillis make for a delicious dish with a little heat.

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      February 29, 2016 at 4:49 pm

      I love the chilli too, Ali. Just a little to give it some pizazz 🙂

      Reply
  12. Christie

    February 29, 2016 at 1:13 pm

    Spring in a bowl. That is what I think of with this recipe. So many delicious and healthy vegetables and my favorite, spaghetti.

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      February 29, 2016 at 4:50 pm

      It is! It's this time of year when you start to crave lighter dishes and summer flavours, isn't it?

      Reply
  13. Bobbi Renee Hass-Burleson

    February 29, 2016 at 1:09 pm

    Oh YUM!!! I love everything about this dish!

    Reply
  14. Coriander Queen

    February 29, 2016 at 11:50 am

    What a fab quick, easy and healthy recipe! I love using frozen vegetables - always have frozen spinach and peppers in my freezer! Gorgeous photos too!

    Reply
  15. Leigh Travers

    February 29, 2016 at 11:25 am

    This is so my type of dish! YUMMY. I'll definitely be trying this out at home.

    Reply
  16. Ashleigh

    February 29, 2016 at 11:22 am

    I love the entire ingredients so I am going to have to give this a try! Can't wait 🙂

    Ashleigh

    Reply
  17. recipesfromapantry

    February 28, 2016 at 11:17 am

    Oh, I can get behind a big platefull of this Kate. Plus I ws in iceland the other day and was so amazed by the range of stuff the had in the frozen section.

    Reply
  18. choclette

    February 26, 2016 at 8:56 pm

    Woohoo, frozen asparagus? Iceland here I come. Your spaghetti dish sounds wonderful and perfect for a meal when you're super hungry or in a rush.

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      February 29, 2016 at 11:05 am

      Thanks Choclette - I love these sorts of fast meals that are super healthy! It's so quick with frozen foods.

      Reply
  19. Debbie Skerten

    February 26, 2016 at 6:10 pm

    Sounds and looks wonderful. This is my hubby's and my kind of food.

    Reply
  20. Foodie Quine (@foodiequine)

    February 26, 2016 at 6:01 pm

    Loving the sound of this! I bought both Asparagus and Kale from Iceland last weekend and will definitely be trying this recipe out.

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      February 29, 2016 at 10:27 am

      I know! They have way more than I had expected!

      Reply
  21. Cathy @ Planet Veggie

    February 26, 2016 at 5:39 pm

    10 minutes you say? Just my kind of meal!

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      March 10, 2016 at 9:47 am

      I know! I love cooking, but sometimes I simply don't have the time. This is faster than most meals, and it's healthy too. Perfect.

      Reply
  22. Sarah

    February 26, 2016 at 3:51 pm

    Oh neat! I didn't know a store like that existed. I love frozen produce because I always seem to let my fresh ones spoil. Your recipe looks really great 🙂

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      March 10, 2016 at 9:45 am

      Frozen veggies and fruit are so convenient. Plus, they're picked at their best so you always get nice ones 🙂

      Reply
  23. Tamara

    February 26, 2016 at 3:20 pm

    This pasta dish looks healthy, quick, and delicious... perfect for a weeknight! I love the improved quality of frozen foods and their availability, and the Iceland product looks like it would work well.

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      March 10, 2016 at 9:43 am

      It does. I like how it's frozen right away, rather than losing it's goodness as it sits on supermarket shelves like fresh does. And now i have a constant supply in the freezer.

      Reply
  24. ttyabiku

    February 26, 2016 at 3:01 pm

    I love how quick and simple this looks. Frozen veggies are so convenient. I don't think I've ever tried frozen kale though. I'll have to grab some the next time I see it so I can give this a try!

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      March 10, 2016 at 9:43 am

      Sometimes you just need quick and simple meals so you don't reach for unhealthy, processed food. Frozen kale is soooo perfect.

      Reply
  25. foodhuntersguide

    February 26, 2016 at 2:52 pm

    This is my kind of delicious

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      March 10, 2016 at 9:42 am

      Thanks! It's so easy so we've made it quite a few times now. Such a quick go-to meal on a busy weeknight.

      Reply
  26. Emily

    February 26, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    Love asparagus and lemon together. Iceland doing frozen kale now is fab! x

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      March 10, 2016 at 9:42 am

      I know!! It's a revelation. They need a big ol sign in the window to let everyone know they have frozen kale 🙂

      Reply
  27. Garlic + Zest

    February 26, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    This looks so good to me - all of my favorite things in one dish! I'm bookmarking this one!

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      March 10, 2016 at 9:41 am

      I hope you like it! Come back and let me know.

      Reply
  28. Rhian Westbury

    February 26, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    I don't really put kale in a lot of things because I'm unsure of the taste but this sounds nice x

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      March 10, 2016 at 9:41 am

      I really like kale, it's not too strong so this sort of dish is a perfect way to get to know the taste of it 🙂

      Reply
  29. Joanne Mallon (@joannemallon)

    February 26, 2016 at 2:00 pm

    Oh that looks so nice, and so easy to make. Will have to take a look in Iceland. I use a lot of frozen fruit and veg to make smoothies in my Nutribullet.

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      February 29, 2016 at 10:11 am

      Frozen fruits and veggies are perfect for smoothies - they're always in perfect condition!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Kate Hackworthy in the kitchen

Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. Here you'll find vegetarian recipes and vegan recipes celebrating vegetables, from dinner to dessert! If you love vegetables, you've come to the right place. About Me

Collage of press logos that Veggie Desserts has appeared in, including The Guardian, Marie Claire, Vancouver Sun, The Globe and Mail, Seattle Times and The Sunday Telegraph.

Popular recipes

  • Stack of naan breads on a plate.
    Easy Naan Bread Recipe (15 Min Yeast-Free Flatbread)
  • Close up of a plate of red lentil dahl with rice and spinach.
    The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
  • A jar of quick, easy and tasty raspberry compote, with a spoonful of it next to a blue and white tea towel.
    Quick Raspberry Compote Recipe
  • Bowl of stewed pears with a serving spoon and a cinnamon stick.
    Easy Stewed Pears Recipe

Vegetable Cake Recipes

  • A cake and a piece of cake sitting on top of a table.
    Apple Kale Cake with Apple Icing
  • Close up of cut loaf cake.
    Parsnip Loaf Cake
  • Cake on a cake stand with slices missing
    Vanilla Spinach Cake
  • A slice of lemon cucumber cake on a plate.
    Lemon and Cucumber Cake

My cookbook

Veggie Desserts and Cakes Cookbook cover.

Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About me
  • Contact
  • Work with me
  • Press
  • Veggie Desserts Cookbook

Newsletter

  • Sign Up for newsletter updates

Partner Sites

  • You Say Potatoes

Disclaimers

  • Disclosures & Affiliate Policies
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Kate Hackworthy / Veggie Desserts

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

This recipe worked out perfectly!
The whole family loved this recipe!
Easy and tasty!
I'm sure we'll be making this recipe again and again!

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.