St. Paddy’s Green Pasta Salad

Good day and Happy St. Patrick’s Day to ya! Today’s featured dish is one that will have Irish eyes (and honorary Irish eyes) smiling. Our ST. PADDY’S GREEN PASTA SALAD has three green veggies- green beans, peas, and asparagus, these green beauties join pillows of rotini pasta that has been flavored with our favorite flavors of garlic, onion, and basil. What really brings this dish together is the creamy and slightly tangy (vegan) cream cheese and (vegan) parmesan. Of course we need a hint of spice and that’s where dried chili flakes come in. This dish is great as a side dish or the main attraction. Can be served hot or cold. So let’s hop to it! 

ST. PADDY’S GREEN PASTA SALAD:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup rotini pasta
• 1-1 1/2 cup frozen fine whole green beans
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 4-5 fresh asparagus spears, roughly chopped
• 2-3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil + more for sauteing 
• 2 Tablespoons (vegan) parmesan
• 1 Tablespoon concentrated basil– this can be found in the produce dept. of the grocery store. It’s packaged in a tube.
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 teaspoon dried chili flakes
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
• 2 Tablespoons (vegan) cream cheese
• salt & pepper to taste

METHOD:

• Start by cooking your rotini pasta according to package directions. 
• In the meantime, In a skillet over medium heat add just enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Then add in the diced onion. Saute for about a minute or two then add the green beans, peas, and asparagus. Saute the veggies until tender but still have a bite to them.
• When the pasta is done cooking- reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water before draining.
• After you’ve drained the pasta water, add the cooked pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add in the parmesan and basil. Mix well Add in the 2-3 tablespoons olive oil and garlic powder and chili flakes- fold together. 
• When your veggies have cooked to desired texture add them to the pasta bowl. Along with the reserved pasta water, and cream cheese.
• Fold ingredients together until the cream cheese melts into the pasta. When it’s all incorporated together it’s ready to serve.
• Enjoy!