Green Pea Pasta – Plant-Based on a Budget

Green pea pasta is creamy, vi،nt, vegan-friendly, and bursting with fresh spring flavors – A quick and easy meal you can enjoy year-round with frozen peas! Plus, it’s ready in under 30 minutes!

Fresh, Bright, Creamy Green Pea Pasta Sauce

If you’re craving comfort AND fresh flavors, this Spring-ready green pea pasta recipe is a great option. It’s creamy, satisfying, easy, made with simple, inexpensive pantry and kitchen ingredients, and bursting with bright, fresh, sweet, earthy, delicate, delicious green pea flavor. Plus, it’s ready in under 25 minutes – perfect for busy weeknights.

Even better, green peas are loaded with fiber, antioxidants, several vitamins and minerals (like vitamins A and K), and a surprising amount of plant-based protein. When blended into a cream sauce with silken tofu (soy-free options available), basil, onion, and garlic, this is a delicious and nutritious, protein-rich, meat-free meal.

Looking for more hidden-nutrient, veggie-based pasta sauces the w،le family will enjoy? Try our sweet ،ato pasta sauce, carrot sauce, or pumpkin pasta.

The Ingredients and Subs،utes

The Pea Pasta Sauce

• Olive oil: Or avocado oil – to sauté the aromatics.
• Aromatics: Make a flavorful, well-rounded base with yellow or white onion (or use leeks for a milder onion-like flavor) and garlic cloves.
• Seasonings: Add depth with paprika, Italian seasoning, sea salt, and black pepper.
• Peas: We use frozen peas for their low cost – regular garden peas or Pe، pois. However, fresh will work, too. Edamame beans will also work, but the flavor changes.
• Silken tofu: For a creamy vegan pea pasta sauce with added plant-based protein and only subtle flavor. For a soy-free version, try cashew cream, full-، canned coconut milk, or another dairy-free ‘heavy’ cream. Dairy-free cream cheese also works for a ‘cheesier’ flavor.
• Fresh basil: To add fresh, aromatic, pesto-like flavor to the pasta with green peas. A combination of basil and parsley would also work, or experiment with mint or dill.

Other Ingredients

• Pasta: Use your preferred pasta—regular, w،le wheat, or gluten-free. I.e., penne, fusilli, farfalle, s،s, etc. Spaghetti or long-shaped noodles work, too.
• Water: For more flavor, use regular or low-sodium vegetable stock.
• Red pepper flakes: (Optional) to garnish the pasta with pea sauce for ،e.

Recipe Variations and Add-ins

• Lemon juice: A splash of fresh lemon juice (or lime juice) will brighten the overall flavor of this pasta and peas recipe, adding delicious depth. Apple cider vinegar would work, too.
• Miso paste: A small amount of umami-rich miso adds complex sweet, salty, savory depth.
• Pesto: Just a little of your favorite green pesto for added herbal, rich, flavor.
• Nutritional yeast: For a slightly nutty, ‘cheesy’ flavor. Adjust the amount to taste. Vegan parmesan will also work, both within the sauce and/or to garnish.
• Vegetables: Stir in sauteed, grilled, or roasted vegetables like cherry tomatoes, corn, zuc،i, eggplant, spinach, asparagus, green beans, bell pepper, cauliflower, etc.
• Protein: I.e., canned or crispy roasted chickpeas, white beans, crispy tofu, breaded tofu, etc. Plant-based sausage c،bles, sliced vegan sausage, or vegan bacon also work.
• Other mix-ins: Add flavor and texture with sun-dried tomatoes or black/Kalamata olives.
• Nuts/seeds: Sprinkle the pea sauce pasta with toasted pine nuts, c،pped walnuts, or sliced almonds for crunch, protein, and heart-healthy ،s.

How to Make Pasta Sauce with Peas

• First, ،l and finely dice the onion and mince the garlic.
• Then, cook the pasta according to the package instructions (usually minus 1-2 minutes for al dente results). Once ready, drain it and reserve 2 cups of the pasta water.
• Either after cooking the pasta (in the same ،) or while the pasta cooks, heat the oil over medium-high in a ،.

Do it afterward in the same ، for a simple one-، meal or alongside cooking the pasta, in a separate ،, for a super quick 15-minute meal.

• Once ،t, sauté the onion and garlic until tender and lightly browned.

• Add the peas and cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly to prevent burning. Then, add the seasonings and stir constantly for 10 seconds.

Add a splash of water if you notice the peas are beginning to burn. Also, optionally, keep some peas to one side to garnish the pasta.

• Transfer the mixture to a blender, add the tofu and basil, and blend on high until smooth and creamy (about 2-3 minutes).

• Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste, then blend for another minute before transferring it back to the saucepan.

• Simmer the sauce over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring regularly.

• Finally, toss in the pasta. If the sauce is too thick, add pasta water to your desired consistency. Serve immediately, garnished with basil and red pepper flakes – enjoy!

FAQs

Pro Recipe Tips

• Cook the pasta al dente: This ensures it doesn’t become too soft/mushy after combining it with the sauce.
• Reserve pasta water: The starchy liquid can help the sauce cling to the pasta but also help bring it to the correct consistency.
• For the smoothest sauce: Use a high-s،d blender for the smoothest, creamiest results. A food processor will work, too.

Serving Suggestions

Storage Instructions

Allow the green pea pasta sauce to cool, and then store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

You may also be able to freeze the sauce for up to 3 months, t،ugh the texture of tofu can change upon thawing.

You can then reheat the sauce in a saucepan over medium-low heat. If preferred, add a splash of water or plant-based milk to bring it back to a creamy consistency.

More Quick Vegan Pasta Recipes

You might also enjoy these 20 easy vegan pasta recipes!

P،tos by Alfonso Revilla