Try these simple pasta recipes filled with healthy vegetables – Parvathy Menon

Pretty Peas Pasta

Ingredients

 350 gm whole wheat spaghetti
 1/4 cup water
 1 ¾ cup fresh/frozen peas
 1 small chopped cucumber
 3 finely chopped green onions

Sauce

 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
 3 tbsp orange juice
 3 tbsp white vinegar
 3 tbsp soy sauce
 4 tsp sesame oil
 4 tsp olive oil
 1 tbsp garlic powder
 2-3 tsp hot pepper sauce
 2-1/4 tsp sugar

Topping

 1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves
 Toasted sesame seeds

Preparation guide

 Cook spaghetti as per package instructions. Sauté peas in olive oil in a small saucepan. Drain spaghetti; rinse with cold water. Mix the spaghetti with green peas, cucumber and green onions.

 In another bowl, blend sauce ingredients and pour over the spaghetti and vegetables. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with coriander leaves and sesame seeds and serve.

Health Benefits

Peas are rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants. In addition, they have high protein content. For example, 1/2 cup (170 gm) of cooked carrots provides 1 gm of protein, while 1/2 cup (170 grams) of peas contains four times the protein.