One-Pot Creamy Peas & Carrots Pasta Recipe Is Budget Comfort Food (8 Ingredients, 25 Minutes) by Jan Mostrom

I wanted to make a kid-friendly dinner for a family who is vegetarian, and this creamy one-pot pasta recipe with vegetables was it! This peas and carrots pasta recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and tastes great. If you like a little protein with your pasta, you can also easily make this with chopped turkey, ham or chicken.

To make this high-fiber and high-protein dinner for your family you will need to grab the following ingredients from your fridge, freezer and pantry: pasta, carrots, olive oil, frozen green peas, fresh garlic, ground turmeric, black pepper, heavy cream or half and half, and optional Parmesan cheese. If you want to add a meat, grab some cooked chicken, turkey or ham. (Check out the health benefits of fiber and the health benefits of protein.)

Photo credit: under license from BigStock

Have you heard about the connection between turmeric and black pepper ( piperine)? When the two spices are eaten together, it boosts the active ingredient in turmeric, called curcumin, by up to 2000 percent. So don't sleep on these two spices! Learn more about the black pepper and turmeric connection.

Serve this delicious creamy one-pot pasta recipe with vegetables for dinner with your favorite side dishes.

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 8 ounces pasta (penne, fusilli or rigatoni work well)
• 2 medium carrots, diced into 1/4-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 garlic cloves, minced or crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half
• Parmesan, grated, for serving (optional)
• 3/4 cup chopped turkey, ham or chicken, cooked (optional)

Here's how to make it: 

1. Fill a large stock pot with water and a good pinch of salt. Bring to a boil. Stir in your pasta and cook according to package directions for al dente. When the pasta has 3 minutes remaining add the chopped carrots and cook them with the pasta. When finished cooking, save 1/2 cup of the pasta water and drain the pasta in a colander. Set pasta and water to the side.
   
2. Using the same stock pot add the olive oil and heat on medium-low heat. Add the peas, garlic and a pinch of salt, black pepper and turmeric. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
   
3. Add the cream and stir. Simmer and stir for 3 minutes or until the peas are tender. If you are adding meat add it now to the peas and stir.
   
4. Pour the pasta and carrots into the pea mixture.
   
5. Add a bit of the reserved pasta water and stir until the pasta is coated with the cream sauce. Stir for 2 minutes to warm everything together.
   
6. Serve warm topped with grated Parmesan, if desired, and enjoy! Store the pasta in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat in the microwave.
   

Photo credits: Jan Mostrom

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