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Pesto bean and pea orzo

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Pesto bean and pea orzo

A quick and protein packed alternative to the classic pesto pasta!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Course: Lunch, Main Course
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g orzo or other short pasta
  • 400 g frozen peas
  • Handful of pine nuts roasted
  • 50 g Basil
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 100 ml extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 × 400g tin of cannellini or butter
  • Beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast leave out if you don’t have any
  • Squeeze of lemon
  • Sea salt and black pepper

Method
 

  1. Add the orzo to boiling salted water and boil for 5 minutes then add the peas for another 2-3 minutes, then drain and reserve some of the pasta water.
  2. Place the basil, garlic, olive oil, beans and nutritional yeast in a blender and blitz for a couple of minutes until blended to a thick pesto. Pour some of the pasta water slowly into the food processor with the motor running until you have a sauce.
  3. Pour the sauce into the orzo and peas and mix well. Serve with toasted pine nuts.