15-Minute Green Pea Pasta
This easy green pea pasta sauce is an ultra-fast, flavorful, creamy vegetarian sauce made with sweet peas (frozen is fine!), basil, lemon, and just a touch of cream cheese. A sure family favorite, it pairs perfectly with any pasta shape, from spaghetti to farfalle.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen-defrosted green peas
- 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan
- 1 pound dry spaghetti, or any pasta shape of choice such as penne or farfalle
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a strong boil.
- Add the pasta, stirring to avoid sticking together. Boil on high according to package directions.
- Before draining, carefully remove one cup of pasta water. Set aside.
- Drain the pasta and add back to the pot off the heat.
Prepare the Green Pea Pasta Sauce
- While the pasta is cooking, add the peas, basil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper to a large food processor or high speed blender. Pulse until smooth.
- Add the cream cheese and parmesan cheese. Pulse until well combined.
- Pour the green pea pasta sauce over the cooked spaghetti, tossing to combine. Add a splash of pasta water to thin the sauce if necessary. Discard any remaining pasta water.
- Serve sprinkled with additional parmesan cheese, fresh basil, and freshly ground black pepper, if desired.
Notes
- See blog post, above, for substitution suggestions including dairy free and gluten free, storage, and more.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 (of 6) | Calories: 490kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 659mg | Potassium: 372mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1161IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 147mg | Iron: 2mg
