Locations:
Search IconSearch

Recipe: English Pea Pasta

A healthy pick for dinner — or even breakfast!

A bowl is full of English pea pasta topped with mint leaves and cheese.

There is something special about using fresh peas straight out of the pod. This recipe was inspired by our root-to-stem philosophy of cooking: It always seems like such a waste to throw away the pea pods, but they are relatively inedible. To make use of the pods, we’ve pureed them into a spring-fresh pasta sauce. Remember: Pasta for breakfast is a great choice, especially when it’s loaded with healthful pea protein.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

Ingredients

Kosher salt
1 pound fresh English peas in pods (yields about 1 cup shelled peas and about 3 ½ cups pods)
½ cup water
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 small spring onions or 2 large shallots, chopped
2 small spring garlic (whites) or 3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons Greek yogurt (optional)
12 ounces whole grain pasta, such as linguine, rigatoni or small shells
Freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup fresh mint (peppermint preferred), thinly sliced
Espelette pepper to taste (optional)
Grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (optional)

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to boil and add enough salt to make it salty like the sea.
  2. Meanwhile, wash the peas. Pull off the stem ends: remove the peas and place in a small bowl. Reserve the pods.
  3. Fill a bowl with cold water. Set aside. Add the empty pea pods to the pot of boiling water and cook for 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or spider, remove the pods from the boiling water and transfer to the bowl of cold water to cool quickly. Drain the pea pods and add to a Vitamix or high-speed blender. Add ½ cup water. Puree for 2 to 3 minutes.
  4. Place a fine strainer over a bowl and add the pea pod puree to the strainer, pressing on the solids to release as much puree as possible into the bowl. Discard the solids in the strainer. Reserve the puree in the bowl; season to taste with salt and pepper.
  5. Cook the pasta in the pot of boiling water until al dente, stirring occasionally.
  6. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the peas and cook 2 minutes. Stir in the reserved pea pod puree and Greek yogurt, if using, and cook just until heated through. (Don’t overcook the peas or puree as the sauce will turn brown).
  7. Using tongs or a spider, transfer the pasta to the sauce in the skillet. Toss until combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer the pasta to the serving bowl. Add the basil and mint. Serve with Espelette pepper and grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, if using.

Advertisement

Nutritional info (per serving)

Makes 4 servings.

Calories: 554 kcal
Total fiber: 12 g
Soluble fiber: 0.1 g
Protein: 15.5 g
Total fat: 16.7 g
Saturated fat: 2.0 g
Healthy fats: 12.1 g
Carbohydrates: 84 g
Sugars: 7.7 g
Added sugars: 0 g
Sodium: 178 mg
Potassium: 433 mg
Magnesium: 14 mg
Calcium: 134 mg

Source: The What to Eat When Cookbook by Michael F. Roizen, MD, Michael Crupain, MD, MPH and Jim Perko, Sr, CEC, AAC.

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Bowl of soba noodles with veggies and tofu, with chopsticks across top of bowl
November 14, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Veggie Stir-Fry in Sweet Ginger Sauce

Vegan recipe with tofu and soba noodles

Broccoli slaw chicken wraps wrapped in paper, tied with string on cooling rack on counter
October 29, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Crunchy Coleslaw Flatbread Folds

A satisfyingly crunchy and easy-to-pull-together meal

Italian pasta with shrimp in bowl with fork, glass of lime water next to, on stone table
October 15, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Italian Pasta With Shrimp

A delicious, high-protein entree

Ceramic serving dish with sweet potato mash with pecans on top, with wooden spoon
October 8, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Light Sweet Potato Casserole

A delicious, sweet dish, minus the fat

Rugged plate of mexican rice pilaf with fork on wooden table
August 29, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Whole-Grain Mexican Pilaf

Ready in 15 minutes!

Two tofu-stuffed manicotti displayed on a bed of sliced tomatoes
August 27, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Tofu Manicotti With Spinach and Cheese

Enjoy a lighter option of this classic Italian fare

A plate stacked with grilled pork chops and grilled peaches
August 15, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Sweet and Savory Pork Chops With Grilled Peaches

Deliciously lean, with lots of flavor

Whole arugula, veggie and goat cheese pizza, with one piece cut, with asparagus in background
August 8, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Pizza With Arugula, Sautéed Veggies and Goat Cheese

As an appetizer or the main course, this pizza will please

Trending Topics

Person touching aching ear, with home remedies floating around
Home Remedies for an Ear Infection: What To Try and What To Avoid

Not all ear infections need antibiotics — cold and warm compresses and changing up your sleep position can help

Infographic of foods high in iron, including shrimp, oysters, peas, cream of wheat, prunes, eggs, broccoli, beef and chicken
52 Foods High In Iron

Pump up your iron intake with foods like tuna, tofu and turkey

Person squeezing half a lemon into a glass of water
Is Starting Your Day With Lemon Water Healthy?

A glass of lemon water in the morning can help with digestion and boost vitamin C levels, and may even help get you into a better routine

Ad