Chickpea Pesto Pasta

Kids can be the toughest food critics around, and trying to convince your kids to eat healthy and nutritious foods – that they still enjoy – can be an incredibly stressful and all-consuming challenge. This kid friendly chickpea pesto pasta tastes light and fresh, while packing plenty of nutrition. This chickpea pesto pasta recipe has consistently been one of my toddler’s favourite meals for over a year now. The chickpea pasta is a great option for kids (and adults!) as it is packed with fibre and protein and a standard serving size typically provides approximately 20% of the daily value for iron, which can be a tough nutrient for kids – especially picky eaters. Flavourful and savoury pesto easily disguise the slightly heartier texture of the chickpea pasta. This dish gets extra nutrition from added vegetables. My favourites to add are cherry tomatoes, bell peppers and prebiotic-rich artichoke hearts, but feel free to add whatever you have on hand! No meat is needed for this recipe, as the chickpea pasta provides plenty of protein. This recipe is a great option for rushed weeknight meals, as it comes together from start to finish in only 20 minutes with minimal effort.

Instructions

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add chickpea pasta and cook per package instructions, generally 7-8 minutes.

2. 2

   In the meantime, prepare your vegetables. Halve cherry tomatoes, chop artichoke hearts and core, seed and dice bell peppers.

3. 3

   When the pasta is finished cooking, strain pasta using a colander. Return pasta to pot and add pesto, stirring thoroughly to coat evenly. Add chopped vegetables and stir to combine.

4. 4

   Serve and sprinkle with crumbled feta. Enjoy!

5. 5

   Substitutions: Substitute chickpea pasta for pasta of your preference. Spelt, whole wheat and quinoa pastas are great options! Swap pesto for a different sauce of your choice, such as marinara or blush. Substitute any of the suggested vegetables for veggies of your preference, or whatever you have on hand!