Name: Green pea pesto pasta with prawns
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 350g pasta of your choice; 1 onion; 2 cloves of garlic; 1 Tbsp olive oil; 1 carrot; ½ red pepper; 1 Tbsp red wine or balsamic vinegar; 1 tsp vegetable stock powder; 1 cup green peas; 250g raw king prawns; To garnish: few Mint or basil leaves; To serve: grated Parmesan; For the pesto:; 100g green peas; 2 cloves of garlic, minced; Juice and grated zest of ½ lemon; 1 handful of mint leaves or pea shoots; 1 Tbsp toasted pine nuts (optional); Grated parmesan; Olive oil

Green pea pesto pasta with prawns

31 May 2023

by Dinna

Prep Time

5 minutes

Cook Time

25 minutes

Total Time

30 minutes

Background

This green pea pesto pasta with prawns is a lovely midweek meal, ready within 20 minutes. The pea pesto can be made in advance, then it’s even quicker. You can use gluten-free pasta and plant-based cheese, or just omit the Parmesan for a dairy-free version. Serve it with a crispy salad on the side.

Ingredients

350g pasta of your choice
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 carrot
½ red pepper
1 Tbsp red wine or balsamic vinegar
1 tsp vegetable stock powder
1 cup green peas
250g raw king prawns
To garnish: few Mint or basil leaves
To serve: grated Parmesan
For the pesto:
100g green peas
2 cloves of garlic, minced
Juice and grated zest of ½ lemon
1 handful of mint leaves or pea shoots
1 Tbsp toasted pine nuts (optional)
Grated parmesan
Olive oil

Instructions

Cut the carrot and red pepper into small cubes. Thinly slice the onion and chop the garlic.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan with a lid, and gently sauté the chopped vegetables (except the garlic) for about 8 minutes.
Add the red wine vinegar and the garlic, then cook for another 5 minutes, until they start caramelising.
Add a small glass of water and the stock powder. Add the peas and bring to the boil and cook for 3 minutes.
Rinse the prawns, then put them on top of the vegetables. Put the lid on and steam for 3-5 minutes, or until the prawns have turned pink. Don’t over cook them!
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a pan of boiling water, for 10-15 minutes, then drain and keep warm.
Also, make the green pea pesto. Heat a small pan of water and steam the peas over the water, then transfer them to a small blender. Add the garlic, mint, nuts, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Mix in some grated Parmesan, if liked.
Whiz, until you get a coarse paste. Add a drop of the cooking water, if it’s too thick.
Add the pesto to the pasta, combine well.
When the pea sauce is ready and the prawns have turned pink, mix in the pesto pasta, then serve with grated Parmesan and mint leaves, if liked