Preparation

The 1973 film Soylent Green presented a grim vision of processed food in an overpopulated world. This playful homage takes the shocking green color and creates something genuinely nourishing—a superfood-packed pesto that's transparency in a bowl.

Creating the Green

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil for the pasta.
2. In a food processor, combine basil, spinach, parsley, spirulina powder, and garlic. Pulse until roughly chopped.
3. Add pine nuts and Parmesan, then pulse again.
4. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until a smooth paste forms.
5. Add lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning—the spirulina can be earthy, so balance with brightness.
6. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
7. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
8. Toss hot pasta with the green pesto, adding pasta water as needed to create a silky coating.
9. Serve in stark white bowls to emphasize the vivid green color, garnished with edible flowers for an ironic touch of luxury.

Note: Despite the film's dark revelation, you can tell your dinner guests that this is made of plants—100% plants, we promise.