High-Protein Creamy Pea Pesto Pasta

This creamy pea pesto pasta is an easy, protein-packed meal that comes together quickly. I love using Brami protein pasta, but you can use any pasta you have on hand. The sauce gets its creaminess from cottage cheese, with peas, pesto and fresh lemon for tons of flavor.

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 box Brami protein pasta, or pasta of choice

• 1 cup cottage cheese

• 1 cup peas, cooked- I buy them frozen and thaw them!

• ¼ cup pesto

• Juice of 1 lemon

• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast

• ¼–½ cup reserved pasta water, as needed

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

• Grated Parmesan, for serving

• Optional: red pepper flakes or fresh basil

Directions

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water.

2. Add the cottage cheese, peas, pesto, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, salt and pepper to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy.

3. Add a little reserved pasta water at a time and blend again until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.

4. Add the drained pasta back to the pot and toss with the creamy pea pesto sauce. Add another splash of pasta water if needed.

5. Divide between bowls and finish with freshly grated Parmesan, black pepper and an extra squeeze of lemon.

Estimated Macros

Per serving (¼ of recipe):

• Calories: ~450

• Protein: ~40g

• Carbohydrates: ~55g

• Fat: ~15

Macros are estimates and will vary depending on the specific pasta, cottage cheese, pesto and Parmesan used.