A few years ago, I created a One-Pot Pasta Primavera recipe that I shared on another website. Over time, it’s remained one of my very favorite easy meatless dinner recipes. My guy, who is usually about as carnivorous as it comes, loves it too.
But because I’m me (and, well, because I had to eliminate dairy since then) I can never leave good enough alone. So I’ve nudged this One-Pot Pasta Primavera recipe here and tweaked it a bit there, making it – in my opinion – even more delicious, while also simplifying the ingredients list a bit. Win-win!
Even though it’s been a few years since the one-pot pasta craze hit, I still find it to be such a brilliant (and tasty) way to get dinner on the table, fast. Throw it all in to one big pot – liquid, veggies, pasta and all – and cook. While you stir, the sauce gets thicker, the pasta turns tender, and the whole pot of goodness turns into one big rib-sticking meal.
“Primavera” means spring – and this one-pot pasta recipe is all about spring. Asparagus, snow peas, a sprinkling of chives … it’s a green machine.
My original recipe called for a few glugs of heavy whipping cream to lend that signature pasta primavera creaminess. You can still do that if you like! But nowadays, I add cashew cream instead and it’s diiiiivine. And it also makes it vegan!
Either way, it’s rich and creamy and full of vibrant green veggies and if you try it, it just might become one of your favorite easy dinner recipes too!
One-Pot Pasta Primavera
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 8 ounces dry linguine pasta
- 1 medium yellow onion (diced)
- 4 large cloves garlic (minced)
- Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt + more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper + more to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound asparagus (ends snapped off, cut into 2-inch pieces)
- 1/2 pound snow peas (halved if large)
- 3/4 cup frozen peas
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves (chiffonaded (can substitute parsley - both are delicious))
- 1/2 to 1 cup cashew cream (recipe below or, for non-vegan version, heavy whipping cream)
- Juice and zest from one large lemon
- Chives or more fresh herbs for garnish (optional)
Cashew cream
- 1/2 cup raw unsalted cashews
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
Important preparation notes
- Cashew cream: If using cashew cream, you'll want to make that first and have it ready to add at the end of the recipe. Use pre-soaked cashews or soak your cashews for 20 minutes in boiling water. Honestly, I soak my cashews in hot tap water for about 10 minutes and they're good to go in my high-powered blender - so that might work for you, too, if you have a Vitamix or the like. To make the cashew cream, drain the soaking water and rinse your cashews, then add them to the pitcher of a blender (high-speed preferred). Add 1/2 cup water. Puree until smooth, 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
- Veggie prep: Have all your veggies chopped and your lemon zested and ready and ready to go before you start cooking the pasta. Once you start cooking, the pasta needs all of your attention.
- Okay! Let's do this thing!
- Add the water, pasta, onion, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon water, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and olive oil to a large, heavy pot. Set over medium-high heat.
- As soon as the water/pasta comes to a boil, set a timer for 7 minutes. Stir/toss frequently with a wooden spoon or long-handled tongs at first and then constantly as the mixture thickens. After the first 4 minutes, add the asparagus and snow peas. Continue cooking for 2 minutes. Add the frozen peas. Continue cooking for the remaining one minute. Test pasta to make sure it's al dente - not mushy, but not raw.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the basil, 1/2 cup of the cashew cream or whipping cream, and the juice and zest from the lemon. Taste and add additional cream, salt and pepper if desired.
- Garnish with chives and/or fresh herbs if desired and scoop onto individual plates to serve.
Notes
Nutrition Facts
This looks simply incredible. I love one pot recipes, they’re so much easier to clean up.
Have you ever tried this with zucchini noodles?
This was simple elegant and delish. Definite hit w my picky kids. They loved it. Keeping in rotation! Thanx
I’m so glad you liked it and as a mom of a picky kid myself, I consider it the highest compliment when they like a recipe! Total win. 🙂
The vegan pasta primavera was delicious! My family was a little doubtful until they took their first bites. But then each raved about it and requested seconds! I substituted fresh green beans since I couldn’t find snow peas at the store. And I needed to add several more minutes to the cooking time because I used a pasta that had a longer cooking time (9 minutes). This was a fabulous dish, and I have added it to my ‘Favorite Recipes’ folder. 😀
I just made The Kitchn’s lemony One-Pot Pasta Primavera on Monday – and we loved it! I’ll try yours next time! Colleen
I loved the simple elegance and flavor of this dish. It was definitely a hit with my picky children. This was a hit with them. Keeping rotation going! Thanks a lot