Description

This light and refreshing pasta combines sweet peas, bright lemon, and fresh mint for a simple springtime meal. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

12 oz spaghetti or penne

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen peas

3 tbsp olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbsp lemon zest

2 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped

1/4 cup grated parmesan (optional)

salt to taste

black pepper to taste

1/2 cup reserved pasta water

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup of cooking water.

2. Blanch fresh peas for 2 minutes or add frozen peas to the pasta in the last minute of cooking, then drain together.

3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

4. Stir in lemon zest and a pinch of salt to infuse the oil with citrus flavor.

5. Add cooked pasta and peas to the skillet and pour in reserved pasta water, tossing to combine.

6. Drizzle lemon juice over the pasta and toss until the sauce is glossy and evenly coats the ingredients.

7. Fold in chopped mint and season with salt and pepper, adjusting to taste.

8. If using, sprinkle parmesan over the pasta and toss until lightly melted.

9. Serve immediately, garnished with extra lemon zest and mint leaves.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: main course
Method: boiling
Cuisine: italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 320
Sugar: 4
Sodium: 250
Fat: 10
Saturated Fat: 2
Unsaturated Fat: 7
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 45
Fiber: 5
Protein: 12
Cholesterol: 5

Keywords: spring pea pasta, simple pea pasta, lemon pea pasta, mint pasta, light dinner, vegetarian pasta