Celebrate the start of Spring and good old Saint Patrick’s Day with this delicious green-inspired pasta. Each tasty bowl is well balanced with plant based protein, fats, carbs and loads of fiber. If your little ones love the green theme of St Pats, this dish is sure to delight.
Preferential Eaters & Sensory Differences:
For our sensory kiddos and more preferential eaters, this dish offers a variety of textures and flavours that can either be combined or served separately. The sauce and peas can be blended to create a smoother creamier consistency or served DIY-style alongside safe and familiar foods to promote exploring each texture, smell and flavour at their own pace. Peas can be especially exciting to explore as they pop in your mouth or squish between fingers.
Nutritional Benefits:
White beans and peas are a good source of plant-based protein, iron and vitamin C making this dish a good option for vegetarian families. Green pea pasta is high in fiber, which is important for digestive health, regulating blood sugar levels, and promoting satiety. If your littles tend to get constipated, a high fiber dish like this can help to promote motility alongside plenty of fluids.
How to Serve it:
This pasta is often a favourite for busy parents because it can be prepped ahead of time then thrown together for a quick meal. Enjoy it warm with Parmesan cheese or serve cold as a pasta salad. We use our famous White Bean Pesto Dip as the base for a great addition of protein and fibre. Make the dip ahead of time for school lunches then transform it into supper by adding noodles. Serve the dip with veggies and crackers while cooking your meal to tide the kids over.
We hope you enjoy getting festive for Saint Patricks Day and celebrating the beginning of spring flowers and sunshine with this nourishing time-saving meal for your family.
Green Pea Pasta
Equipment
- 1 pot
Ingredients
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup White Bean Pesto Dip
- 1 – 1 1/2 cup Cavatelli noodles (or sub your favourite pasta noodles)
- 1/4 cup Green peas
Ingredients for White Bean Pesto Dip:
- 1 can Cannellini (white) beans (398mL can) drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup Store-bought pesto
- 2 handfuls Spinach chopped
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice optional
- 1 tbsp Olive oil more olive oil can be added to thin the consistency of the dip as needed
- salt and pepper to taste (optional) season as desired
Instructions
- Make ahead: White Bean Pesto dip and set aside.(Add all bean dip ingredients into a food processor and pulse until smooth. Add more or less pesto depending on your taste preferences. The lemon adds a nice tangy flavour but can be omitted. After blending, scrape down the sides and pulse again until mostly smooth.)
- Boil pasta according to directions (you can add your green peas into the boiling water during the last few minutes of cooking to save time and dishes. Otherwise, continue to the next step below.
- Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Once boiling, add in your peas and cook for 3 minutes then drain.
- Once drained, return the pot to the stove on medium-low. Add in cooked pasta noodles, peas, and White Bean Pesto dip to your liking.Stir on medium-low until all is warm and combined together.
- Serve and enjoy this green-themed meal!
Notes
Disclaimer
Information provided by our dietitians is for general education and is not medical advice.
