Green Pea and Lemon Pasta Shells with Parmesan
Gluten-free pasta shells in a silky sweet-pea sauce with wilted spinach, lemon and parmesan.
Fits Celiac, Hashimoto's, Pregnancy and 3 more diets
Plan your dinnersGluten checks every recipe for everyone at your table. Free.
Ingredients
- 12 oz gluten-free pasta shells
- 2 cups frozen peas
- 3 oz baby spinach
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 count lemon, zest and juice
- 1.5 oz parmesan, finely grated
- ¾ tsp salt
Method
- Boil the shells in salted water until just tender.9 min timer
- Add the peas for the last minute, then scoop out the kids' share with a little parmesan.1 min timerKids’ plate comes out here
- Reserve a cup of pasta water, then drain the pot.
- Blend half the peas with olive oil, garlic, lemon zest and juice into a bright sauce.
- Toss the pasta with the sauce and spinach until the spinach wilts.
- Loosen with pasta water and top with the parmesan.
Kids’ plate: Green Monster Pasta
On the plate: Plain pasta shells with whole peas and parmesan, lemon sauce left off.
Make it a game: Peas are green monster eggs hiding in the pasta — can each shell find one to carry?
Set it aside at step 2, before the grown-ups’ sauce or spice goes on.
Why it works
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis: A bright pea sauce with olive oil, lemon and parmesan — no soy sauce in sight.
- Gluten-free: Gluten-free pasta shells carry the sauce, so everyone's bowl is the same.
- Kid (4–12): Familiar shells and peas with parmesan, sauce on the grown-up bowls only.
- Toddler (1–3): Small-cut shells and soft mashed peas that scoop up easily on a fork.
Celiac check: watch for hidden gluten in soy sauce, stock, malt vinegar and seasoning blends, and oats that aren’t certified. Gluten gives food ideas, not medical advice: always check labels for allergens and cross-contact.
Cooking for more than one diet?
Add everyone you cook for, with their allergies, diets and ages. Gluten checks this recipe for each of them and tells you what to change for anyone who can’t eat it as written. It’s free to start.
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This recipe also fits: Hashimoto's recipes, Pregnancy recipes, Toddlers recipes, Gluten-free recipes, Crohn’s and colitis recipes, Kid-friendly recipes, One pan recipes, Quick recipes, Gluten-free Italian recipes.