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–+ servings
A large white bowl full of a creamy pesto pasta with asparagus, peas and cherry tomatoes.
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4.57 from 32 votes

Creamy pesto pasta with spring vegetables

This warm and creamy one-pot pesto pasta with peas, asparagus, ricotta and Parmesan cheese is a great dinner side dish or vegetarian main meal.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Yield: 6 -8 servings

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. whole wheat penne or rotini pasta
  • 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut in 1-inch long pieces
  • 1 cup green peas (thawed, if frozen)
  • ⅔ cup prepared pesto
  • 1 cup reduced-fat ricotta cheese (or use whole milk ricotta)
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise (I use reduced fat)
  • ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
  • Kosher salt and black pepper

For serving

  • Chopped fresh basil, extra Parmesan cheese, fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil then add a small handful of salt and add the pasta.
  • Cook pasta for 6 minutes then add the asparagus stalks to the pot. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the peas and stir to combine and warm them through. Check the pasta and cook until al dente.
  • Drain the pasta and vegetables, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
  • Return the pasta and veggies to the pot. Add pesto, ricotta cheese and mayonnaise and stir until well combined, adding splashes of cooking liquid as needed to help the sauce come together. Stir in Parmesan cheese and cherry tomatoes (if using) and season to taste with salt and black pepper.
  • Add any desired toppings and serve warm.

Notes

Try these toppings: 
  • A squeeze of fresh lemon juice and maybe some lemon zest
  • Chopped fresh basil (or mint or parsley, if you prefer)
  • Extra grated Parmesan cheese
  • A sprinkling of pine nuts for some crunch
Or add some rotisserie chicken to make a heartier meal. Place the chopped cooked chicken in the bottom of your pot after you’ve drained the chicken and veggies, then add them on top and proceed with adding the pesto and other sauce ingredients. The chicken will get warmed through and coated with everything else.

Nutrition

Calories: 684kcal | Protein: 23g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 767mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g
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