St Pat's Pasta

Celebrate the festive spirit of St. Patrick’s Day with St. Pat’s Pasta, a vibrant and delicious green pasta dish packed with fresh flavors and wholesome ingredients. This recipe features tender spaghetti coated in a creamy spinach-basil pesto, infused with the aromatic goodness of garlic, parmesan, and toasted pine nuts. Seasonal touches like sautéed asparagus, sweet peas, and a hint of zesty lemon add brightness and texture, making this dish as refreshing as it is satisfying. Ready in just 35 minutes, St. Pat’s Pasta is perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions, offering a gourmet twist that feels both indulgent and nutritious. Serve it hot, garnished with extra parmesan and lemon zest for a burst of color and flavor that’s sure to impress! Keywords: St. Pat's Pasta, green pasta recipe, spinach basil pesto, festive pasta dish, spring vegetables, vegetarian pasta recipe.

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 12 ounces spaghetti
• 3 cups fresh spinach
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 2 cloves garlic cloves
• 0.25 cup pine nuts
• 0.5 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 0.33 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 0.25 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup green peas (frozen or fresh)
• 1 cup asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water and then drain the pasta.

Step 2

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the pesto. In a food processor, combine the fresh spinach, basil leaves, garlic cloves, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper. Pulse until the mixture is finely blended.

Step 3

With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture forms a smooth pesto. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Step 4

In a small, dry skillet over medium heat, toast the asparagus pieces until slightly tender, about 3-5 minutes. Add the peas to the skillet and heat for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

Step 5

In a large skillet over low heat, add the spinach-basil pesto and heavy cream. Stir to combine and heat gently, about 2-3 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, stir in a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.

Step 6

Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly in the sauce.

Step 7

Fold in the sautéed asparagus and peas. Gently toss everything together to distribute the vegetables throughout the pasta.

Step 8

Plate the pasta and garnish with a sprinkle of lemon zest and additional grated parmesan cheese if desired.

Step 9

Serve immediately and enjoy your festive, vibrant St. Pat's Pasta!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(972.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1950.4

Total Fat 133.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 33.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 11.5g
Cholesterol 100mg	0%
Sodium 3143.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 144.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 22.6g	0%
Total Sugars 15.7g
Protein 55.0g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 685.2mg	0%
Iron 16.8mg	0%
Potassium 1129.1mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 60.1%

Protein: 11.0%

Carbs: 28.9%