Description
A creamy, vibrant green pea pasta recipe featuring a nutritious blend of peas, silken tofu, and fresh basil, tossed with your favorite pasta and seasoned with paprika and Italian herbs for a delicious and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 red or yellow onion, chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 pound frozen peas, thawed
- 12 ounce silken tofu
- 1 cup packed fresh basil, plus more for garnish
- 2 cups pasta water
- Salt and pepper to taste
Pasta
- 1 pound pasta of your choice
Garnish (optional)
- Red pepper flakes
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente and reserve 2 cups of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside in a colander.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same pot used for the pasta, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic and sauté until they begin to brown, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add Seasonings and Peas: Stir in the paprika and Italian seasoning and cook for 10 seconds. Add the thawed peas and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning. If needed, add a splash of pasta water to prevent sticking.
- Blend Sauce: Remove the onion, garlic, and peas mixture from the pot and place it in a blender. Add the silken tofu and fresh basil. Blend on high for 2 to 3 minutes until creamy. Taste and season with salt and pepper, then blend for an additional minute.
- Simmer Sauce: Pour the blended sauce back into the pot and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring regularly to heat through.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss well to coat. If the sauce is too thick, adjust the consistency by gradually adding reserved pasta water to your liking.
- Serve: Serve the pasta immediately, garnished with fresh basil leaves and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- Cook the pasta al dente to prevent it from becoming mushy when combined with the sauce.
- Reserve pasta water; the starchy liquid helps sauce adhere to the pasta and adjusts consistency.
- Use a high-speed blender for the creamiest, smoothest sauce. A food processor can be used as an alternative.
- Use fresh basil for garnish to add freshness and enhance flavor.
- Red pepper flakes add a nice optional heat element to the dish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
