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Pea Pesto Pasta with Tomatoes & Arugula | Living Healthy in Seattle

Pea Pesto Pasta with Tomatoes & Arugula

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

Pesto

  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1/4 cup toasted unsalted sliced almonds
  • 1/4 cup toasted unsalted cashews
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh basil leaves
  • 1/2 cup mint leaves
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking water, to thin for desired consistency
  • Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
  • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • Pink sea salt, to taste

Pasta

  • 2 cups short-cut pasta (I used chickpea fusilli, like Banza)
  • 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup small dice zucchini
  • 3/4 cup halved cherry tomatoes or sun gold tomatoes
  • 1 packed cup arugula
  • 1/3 cup crumbled vegan feta (I use Trader Joe's)

Instructions
 

  • Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Simmer the frozen peas for one minute, then drain well.
  • In a food processor, pulse the peas, almonds, cashews, basil, mint, and lemon until well combined. Scraping down the sides as necessary. Some small chunks are fine.
  • With the motor running, stream in the olive oil.
  • Scrape down the sides of the food processor bowl again, then stream in 1 tablespoon of hot pasta water at a time, until the pesto comes together. You want a thick sauce consistency—you most likely won't use all the water.
  • Season with red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt, then blend again.
  • Meanwhile, boil the pasta in a medium-large pot until al dente. My pasta took about 7 minutes. Drain, and rinse if using chickpea pasta. Return the pasta to the pot.
  • While the pasta is cooking, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a medium-small nonstick skillet. Cook the zucchini, undisturbed, for two minutes. Then stir and cook one minute more. Remove from heat.
  • Gently fold the pesto into the cooked pasta, along with the sauteed zucchini, tomatoes, arugula, and feta. Taste, and adjust seasonings if you'd like.
  • Serve hot, warm, room temperature, or chilled.