Vegetable Spring Pasta
It’s officially Spring! And with springtime comes some of my favorite fruits and vegetables. Did you know one of the easiest ways to maximize the nutrients in your food is to eat seasonally?
By eating local and in season, produce doesn’t have to travel long distances to make it to your plate. Eating in season requires less pesticide, herbicide, and chemical use to keep the produce fresh and keep the bugs away. It is important to note that seasonal food options can vary, depending on the region in which they’re grown. To check your state’s seasonal produce visit Seasonal Food Guide.
Here is one of my favorite recipes using seasonal spring produce: Vegetable Spring Pasta.
Spring Vegetable Pasta
This super quick and easy meal is perfect for a busy weeknight. It is bright, light, yet savory & creamy all in one dish!
Servings: 6 | Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
1 bunch asparagus, cut stalks into thirds
8 oz sugar snap peas (1 bag), cut in half lengthwise
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, cut into strips
1/2 cup chopped parsley
2 tbsps olive oil
1 box bow tie pasta - I used Jovial Foods brown rice pasta
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
1/2 cup pasta water
3 tbsp lemon Juice
Zest of 1 lemon
Directions:
Boil water a pot of water and add 2 tbsp salt to paste water. Use a big enough pot so the veggies can also fit. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Save 1 cup of the pasta water.
Add the asparagus and sugar snap peas to the cooking pasta 3 minutes before the pasta is done. Cook with the pasta for about 3 minutes. You want the veggies to still have a little crunch.
In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and minced garlic. Cook until the garlic is foamy and golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and immediately add nutritional yeast, reserved pasta water, black pepper, lemon juice. Stir to combine.
Add the cooked pasta, veggies, parsley, sundried tomatoes, and lemon zest. Toss to evenly coat the pasta. If the pasta is too dry, add an additional tablespoon of water or oil at a time until desired consistency is reached. Season with additional salt, pepper, & lemon juice, if needed. Enjoy!