pea pesto pasta

This pesto is sweet from the peas, garlicy, full of flavour. and a great alternative to the classic basil pesto. Made from 9 nutritious ingredients, this pesto is vegan, nut-free and gluten-free.

In less than 30 min you have an easy, nutritious weeknight meal. What is not to love?

THIS PESTO IS ANYTHING BUT THE CLASSIC BASIL PESTO

AND IS MADE WITH

• fresh or frozen peas

• fresh basil leaves

• fresh baby leaf spinach

• sunflower seeds

• garlic

• lemon juice

• nutritional yeast

• salt

• extra virgin olive oil

Not only is this super easy to make, it is also packed with nutrients.

GREEN PEAS

Are a good source of plant protein, calcium and vitamin A. They are fairly low in calories, but packed with nutrients. Peas are rich in fiber, which benefits digestion. They may also help protect against cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

SPINACH

Is a good source of calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin A, C and K1. Spinach is good for eye health, help moderate blood pressure levels and may help fight cancer.

BASIL

High in vitamin A, calcium and Beta carotene. It also includes a range of antioxidants, meaning it protects against skin aging. Basil is also know for boosting mental health, combatting infection and reducing inflammation.

GARLIC

It is highly nutritious and rich in Vitamin C, B6 and manganese. It may also help prevent common illnesses like common cold or flu. It may also help improve cholesterol levels and lower risk of heart disease. The antioxidants in garlic may help prevent dementia and help detoxify heavy metals in our bodies.

LEMON JUICE

Lemons are high in vitamin C and various other beneficial plant compounds. Lemons can help control weight, prevent kidney stones, support heart health, reduce the risk of cancer and improve digestive health.

ALTERNATIVES

• substitute the sunflower seeds with walnuts or pine nuts

• use any pasta you like, I used a pea pasta

• replace the pasta with gnocchi

• use fresh cherry tomatoes instead of sundried tomatoes

WAYS TO ENJOY THIS PESTO

• serve with your pasta of choice

• serve with gnocchi

• spread on your pizza

• add to your sandwich, especially toasted sandwiches

PEA PESTO PASTA

This pesto is sweet from the peas, garlicy, full of flavour. and a great alternative to the classic basil pesto. Made from 9 nutritious ingredients, this pesto is vegan, nut-free and gluten-free.

Serves: 2

Time: 15 min

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE PESTO

• 120g fresh or frozen peas

• 60g sunflower seeds

• 40g baby leaf spinach

• 15g fresh basil leaves

• 1 - 2 cloves garlic

• 1 heaped tbsp nutritional yeast

• 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice

• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• ½ tsp sea salt, or more to taste

FOR THE PASTA

• 150g pasta of choice

• 1/4 cup additional peas

• 3 - 4 sundried or cherry tomatoes, roughly chopped

• vegan parmesan (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

FOR THE PESTO

1. If you are using frozen peas, defrost them by covering them with boiling water for a few minutes or cook them for a minute or so. Drain and add to the blender.

2. Add all the other pesto ingredients into the high-speed blender and blend until smooth.

3. Set aside or transfer to a sealable container.

FOR THE PASTA

1. Cook the pasta as per instructions.

2. Drain the pasta, but reserve some of the cooking water.

3. Add the pesto and peas to the pasta and give a good mix. If the sauce is too thick, simply add a bit of the reserved pasta water.

4. Add the tomatoes and season with sea salt & black pepper and vegan parmesan (optional)

5. Enjoy!

Have you made this?

If you have, I would love to see your creations on Instagram.

Make sure to leave a review below and give it a rating.

tag me on Instagram

@lychees_and_leggings and #lychees_and_leggings

Follow me on Instagram for more vegan recipe inspiration!