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Bowl of pasta and peas with a fork and spoon.
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4.50 from 2 votes

Pasta with Peas & Basil

This pasta with peas and fresh basil is so simple, but seriously packed with flavor! It's a super easy pasta dinner that can be ready in about twenty minutes, so it's perfect for busy weeknights.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Entree, Main
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 5
Calories: 445kcal
Author: Alissa Saenz

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces dried rotini pasta, or pasta shape of choice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
  • 16 ounces frozen peas, thawed (about 3 cups of peas)
  • 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • ½ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • Pinch red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • Vegan Parmesan cheese, for serving, optional

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook it according to the package directions. Drain the pasta into a colander when it's done.
  • While the pasta cooks, coat the bottom of a large skillet with the oil and place it over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the garlic. Sauté the garlic for about a minute, stirring constantly, until it become very fragrant.
  • Stir in the coconut milk, peas, and salt. Raise the heat to high and bring the coconut milk to a boil. Lower the heat and let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes.
  • Use a fork or potato masher to mash about half of the peas (Note 1).
  • Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and stir to combine it with the peas and sauce. Cook everything for about a minute more, then remove the skillet from heat.
  • Stir in the lemon juice and basil. Season the pasta with additional salt to taste, if desired, along with some red pepper flakes and black pepper.
  • Serve with a sprinkle of vegan Parmesan cheese.

Notes

  1. You can mash more or less of the peas to achieve your preferred texture.

Nutrition

Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 480mg | Potassium: 496mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 821IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 4mg