Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at the ingredients you need to make this pasta recipe for kids so you know what to pick up from the store and have on hand. Friends, I cannot believe how yummy this vegetable sauce for pasta is! I added a little more flavor to this recipe to ensure it’s yummy enough for both kids and parents. And have a lot of options for adding even more flavor. (I adore this sauce with fresh mint!) The sauce can be made ahead and put into the fridge, or you can make the whole recipe and freeze it in small portions for a future meal. It’s rich in iron, protein, and fiber, but mostly it just tastes creamy and delicious. (You may also like Shortcut Toddler Dinners, Extra-Veggie Baby Pasta, and my full list of Hidden Veggie Recipes.) Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.
Minced garlic: You can use fresh or jarred minced garlic in the sauce to add lots of yummy flavor. Minced onion: You can use frozen minced onion or chop fresh onion. I typically use white onion or yellow onion, but any type will work. Frozen petite peas: I prefer to use petite peas in this Pasta with Pea Sauce recipe (and in all of my recipes with peas!) since they are sweeter and less starchy, which to me makes them taste much better. Pasta: Any shape or size of pasta works here so use what you prefer. Butter: I cook and bake with unsalted butter so I can control the salt, though you can use salted butter if that’s what you have on hand. Cottage cheese: We add cottage cheese for creaminess and protein in the sauce, which helps it be a little more filling. You can also use ricotta cheese, which has a similar texture. Grated Parmesan cheese Adding Parmesan cheese to the sauce adds more flavor and cheesiness. Cream: A little cream adds richness to the pea sauce and helps the sauce blend together smoothly. Salt, pepper, freshly grated lemon zest, lemon juice, minced fresh basil, minced fresh mint, crumbled goat cheese (optional as desired)
Ingredient Substitutions
Gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta your family enjoys, such as the type made with chickpeas or another GF pasta. Dairy-free and vegan: Replace the cottage cheese with white beans and omit the cream. Use some of the pasta cooking water as your liquid. Add nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Below is a look at how to make this Pasta with Pea Sauce recipe so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down for the full recipe, including the amounts and the timing.
How to Store
Add leftovers of the Pasta with Pea Sauce, once cooled, to an airtight storage container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Warm through in 15 second increments in the microwave to serve. You can also freeze the Pea Sauce in a freezer container or freezer bag, pressed flat and air removed and sealed, for up to 6 months. You can make the sauce up to 5 days ahead and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Best Tips for Success
Top bowls of Pasta with Pea Sauce with salt, cracked black pepper, freshly grated lemon zest, minced fresh herbs such as mint (so yummy!) or fresh basil leaves, or crushed red pepper as you like. I prefer “petite” frozen peas as they are less starchy, but regular peas work, too. The pasta cooking water helps ensure that the sauce is easy to blend and turns out smooth. Use a ladle or a measuring cup to remove some from the pot as the pasta cooks. Serve as a vegetarian main dish or as a side dish with Chicken Tenders, Tofu Nuggets, or Poached Salmon. Gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta your family enjoys, such as the type made with chickpeas or another GF pasta. Dairy-free and vegan: Replace the cottage cheese with white beans and omit the cream. Add nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor. You may like my Pasta with Summer Squash and using this idea as a fun Halloween lunch.
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