Twirl your fork into a bowl of hearty whole wheat fettuccine noodles bursting with bright citrus and briny olives. This easy 30-minute pasta dish tastes like it comes straight from the Mediterranean coast and is packed full of fresh produce that will nourish you from the inside out. The earthy flavor of crisp asparagus spears is paired with hearty edamame for the perfect combination of substance and crunch. Toasted pine nuts provide subtle undertones of warm nuttiness, but you can easily swap them for your favorite seeds if you’re allergic. Squeeze some extra lemon juice over the top before serving, and you’ll be blown away by how a few simple ingredients can create such mouthwatering flavor.

For more 30-minute vegan pasta recipes, check out these tasty ideas:

By Ellen Boeke,

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. dry whole wheat fettuccine or linguine
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen shelled edamame
  • 1 lb. fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ⅓ cup pitted Kalamata or Niçoise olives, slivered
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
  • Lemon wedges

Instructions

  • Cook pasta according to package directions; add edamame the last 2 minutes of cooking. Reserve ¼ cup pasta cooking water. Drain pasta mixture.
  • Meanwhile, in an extra-large nonstick skillet cook asparagus over medium-high 4 minutes or until just tender and slightly browned, stirring frequently and adding water, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, as needed to prevent sticking. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute.
  • Add pasta mixture, olives, lemon zest, lemon juice, pepper, and reserved pasta cooking water to skillet; toss to combine. Top with pine nuts. Serve with lemon wedges.

Comments (3)

(4 from 3 votes)

Recipe Rating

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SF

Family favorite - I make this several times a month! Adding in the reserved pasta water helps all the ingredients adhere.

Denise Corklin

Not much flavor per recipe…added lots more olives and lemon. Vegetables and goodies have no adherence to the pasta so it’s all at the bottom of a serving bowl.

SL

Certainly looks better than today's New York Time's p.3 recipe of pasta and Asparagus! Maybe you planned it that way:)

About the Author

Ellen Boeke headshot

About the Author

Ellen Boeke

Ellen Boeke has more than 25 years of experience as a recipe developer and food editor. She holds Bachelor's of Science degrees in consumer food science and journalism from Iowa State University and attended Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France. Find her on LinkedIn.
See More from this Author

Free Download

Free 5-day meal plan!

Get a taste for healthy, fuss-free meal planning with this free five-day meal plan from Forks Meal Planner!

By providing your email address, you consent to receive newsletter emails from Forks Over Knives. We value your privacy and will keep your email address safe. You may unsubscribe from our emails at any time.

Placeholder image

Join our mailing list

Get free recipes and the latest info on living a happy, healthy plant-based lifestyle.

By providing your email address, you consent to receive newsletter emails from Forks Over Knives. We value your privacy and will keep your email address safe. You may unsubscribe from our emails at any time.