Creamy Summer Pasta

This is a quick and delicious recipe showcasing the best of summer veg with light and simple flavours.

These recipes are designed for you to cook together as a family. The best bits for children to help with are shown in blue, and little hands can always help with measuring ingredients and washing up!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon oil (1 tablespoon = approx. 3 teaspoons)
• 350g pasta, or about 5 mugs
• ½ bag spinach or 3 blocks frozen
• 4 tablespoons crème fraiche or dairy-free equivalent
• ½ lemon, squeezed or 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or minced
• 75g sugar snap peas, sliced
• 100g cheese, grated
• 1 pack tenderstem broccoli
• Pinch salt and pepper

Serves 4. Approximate cost per adult serving: 90p

Method

1. Weigh out the pasta and cook according to the packet instructions.
2. Wash the vegetables and chop any hard ends off the broccoli and slice any large pieces in half.
3. Add the oil to a frying pan and fry the broccoli until starting to soften but still with bite, about 5 minutes. Then add the sugar snap peas and spinach. Allow to wilt down.
4. Add the garlic to the frying pan and cook for a few minutes.
5. Remove from the heat. Add the crème fraiche into the pan with the squeeze of lemon juice. If preparing for babies under 1 remove a portion of the sauce now. Then season with salt and pepper.
6. Drain the pasta and keep 2 tablespoons of the cooking water. Add the pasta and the water to the frying pan with the vegetables and mix well until the pasta is coated.
7. Top with the grated cheese and serve.

Equipment

• Saucepan
• Frying pan
• Grater

Modify Me

• Chop up the pasta and veggies if preparing for babies under 1 or serve pasta and veggies as finger food. Remember to remove a portion before adding salt.
• Tinned or cooked fresh salmon also works well added into this recipe. Add at step 5.
• Normal broccoli, peas, asparagus, or mushrooms would work well in this recipe too.
• You can store leftovers in the fridge for an easy lunch the next day and leftover sugar snap peas are a great snack!

Foodie Fact

Broccoli is a great source of folate, also called vitamin B9, which is essential in early pregnancy.

Recipe adapted from Catch 77 CIC

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