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Fresh Dollar Store Pasta Primavera

Dollar Store Pasta Primavera - featured image
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A quick, budget-friendly pasta primavera made with simple ingredients from the dollar store, featuring fresh vegetables sautéed in garlic-infused olive oil and brightened with lemon juice.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces dried spaghetti or penne pasta
  • 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 small zucchini, diced (optional)
  • ½ cup frozen peas
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente (usually 9-11 minutes). Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, prep your vegetables: trim green beans, peel and slice carrot, dice zucchini if using, mince garlic and onion.
  3. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent.
  4. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
  5. Add green beans and carrots to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes until slightly softened but still crisp.
  6. If using zucchini and peas, add them now and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
  7. Season vegetables with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir to combine.
  8. Add drained pasta to the sauté pan. Toss gently while gradually adding reserved pasta water (start with ¼ cup) to help sauce cling to noodles and veggies.
  9. Turn off heat and squeeze juice of half a lemon over the pasta. Add chopped parsley and toss again.
  10. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately, optionally topped with grated Parmesan.

Notes

Reserve pasta water before draining to help emulsify the sauce. Avoid overcooking vegetables to keep them crisp. Use good-quality olive oil for best flavor. Lemon juice brightens the dish and balances richness. This recipe is adaptable for gluten-free and dairy-free diets by using appropriate pasta and skipping cheese.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta primavera, budget meal, dollar store recipe, easy pasta, quick dinner, vegetarian, affordable meals

Find it online: https://sparklespoon.com/fresh-dollar-store-pasta-primavera-recipe-easy-under-1-dollar-meal-ideas/