Creamy Lemon Pesto Protein Pasta with White Beans
Tender protein pasta tossed with creamy cannellini beans, wilted baby spinach, and a bright garlic basil pesto. A comforting, gentle dinner designed for easy digestion and high protein.
Prep
5 min
Cook
10 min
Total
15 min
Makes
1 serving
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Maureen + Lila
Maureen created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthDigestive comfort
A portion that works for you
Fiber and plants can support digestion, but more is not always better overnight. Start with a comfortable portion and build gradually.
Notice: comfort + portion
Steadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Comfortably satisfied
Fullness that has staying power
This meal is designed to feel substantial, so finishing it can feel like the meal is complete rather than the start of an evening of grazing.
Notice: fullness 2–3 hours later
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
5 min
Cook
10 min
Total
15 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Colander
Time saver
Store leftover pasta in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Do these three things first
- 1Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 2Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
- 3Read through the steps once before you begin
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 8 steps complete
Next: Bring a medium pot of well-salted water…
- 01
Bring a medium pot of well-salted water…
Bring a medium pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat.
Tap card to mark done - 02
Add 60g protein pasta to the boiling…
Add 60g protein pasta to the boiling water and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until tender and soft.
Look for: tender and soft
Tap card to mark done - 03
Scoop out 0
Scoop out 0.25 cup (60ml) of warm pasta cooking water and set it aside before draining the pasta.
Tap card to mark done - 04
Drain the pasta in a colander and…
Drain the pasta in a colander and return the empty pot to the stove over low heat.
Tap card to mark done - 05
Heat 1 tbsp lemon juice
Heat 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 minced garlic clove, and 2 tbsp basil pesto in the pot for 1 minute until warm and fragrant.
Look for: warm and fragrant
Tap card to mark done - 06
Stir in 0
Stir in 0.5 cup rinsed cannellini beans and 1.5 cups baby spinach, cooking for 2 minutes until spinach is fully wilted.
Look for: spinach is fully wilted
Tap card to mark done - 07
Add the cooked pasta and reserved pasta…
Add the cooked pasta and reserved pasta water into the pot, stirring gently for 1 to 2 minutes until sauce evenly coats the pasta.
Look for: sauce evenly coats the pasta
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Serve warm in a shallow bowl
Serve warm in a shallow bowl.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
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