A fresh take on early spring herbs and homegrown produce
Spring is the season when everything feels lighter and brighter — and your meals can reflect that too. As broad beans start popping in the kitchen garden, pairing them with fresh mint and early herbs makes for a pesto that’s as vibrant as the season itself. Stirred through wholegrain pasta with a touch of lemon zest, this dish is proof that garden-fresh cooking doesn’t need to be complicated.
🌱 Why Broad Beans?
Broad beans are an underrated spring vegetable:
- Packed with fibre to support digestion and gut health.
- Rich in plant protein to help balance energy and keep you full.
- Loaded with folate, iron, and magnesium — nutrients that support energy, muscle function, and overall wellness.
Paired with mint and lemon, they create a pesto that feels both hearty and refreshing.
🍋 Recipe: Broad Bean & Mint Pesto Pasta
Ingredients (serves 4):
- 400g wholegrain pasta (penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti)
- 2 cups broad beans (podded, blanched, and skins removed)
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves
- ½ cup fresh parsley or basil (optional)
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for dairy-free)
- ¼ cup toasted nuts or seeds (almonds, cashews, or sunflower seeds)
- 2 cloves garlic
- Zest & juice of 1 lemon
- ½ cup olive oil
- Salt & cracked black pepper
Method:
- Cook pasta according to packet instructions. Reserve 1 cup of cooking water.
- In a food processor, combine broad beans, mint, herbs, parmesan, nuts, garlic, and lemon zest.
- With the motor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until smooth. Adjust with lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Toss the hot pasta with pesto, adding splashes of reserved pasta water until it coats evenly.
- Serve topped with extra parmesan and fresh mint leaves.
🌿 Variations & Tips
- No broad beans? Try peas or edamame as an alternative.
- Make ahead: Pesto keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for a month.
- Add protein: Top with grilled chicken, salmon, or crumbled feta for extra heartiness.
Final Thought
This spring broad bean & mint pesto pasta is light, fresh, and nourishing — a perfect example of letting seasonal produce shine. It’s family-friendly, garden-inspired, and can be on the table in under 30 minutes.