Trader Joe's Creamy Chickpea Pasta Marinara with Spinach
A fast, 15-minute high-protein dinner combining Trader Joe's chickpea pasta with warm marinara, protein-packed cottage cheese, and wilted spinach. Rich, comforting, and filled with over 41g of satisfying plant and dairy protein.
Prep
5 min
Cook
10 min
Total
15 min
Makes
1 serving
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Beth + Lila
Beth 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 HealthComfortably 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
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
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
A steadier afternoon
Give your day a solid food foundation
Being properly fed cannot solve a hard day, but a substantial meal can remove hunger and an energy dip from the list of things you are juggling.
Notice: mood + energy 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
Large skillet · Saucepan · 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 salted water…
- 01
Bring a medium pot of salted water…
Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boiling state over high heat.
Tap card to mark done - 02
Add 85g chickpea pasta to the boiling…
Add 85g chickpea pasta to the boiling water and set a timer for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally until cooked to tender al dente texture.
Look for: cooked to tender al dente texture
Tap card to mark done - 03
Place a medium skillet over medium heat…
While the pasta cooks, place a medium skillet over medium heat and add 1 tsp olive oil.
Tap card to mark done - 04
Add 1
Add 1.5 cups fresh spinach to the skillet and cook for 2 minutes until wilted and vibrant green.
Look for: wilted and vibrant green
Tap card to mark done - 05
Warm 0
Warm 0.5 cup marinara sauce and 0.5 cup low-fat cottage cheese together in a small saucepan over medium-low heat for 3 minutes, stirring until smooth and warmed through.
Look for: smooth and warmed through
Tap card to mark done - 06
Drain the cooked chickpea pasta in a…
Drain the cooked chickpea pasta in a colander and immediately return it to the hot cooking pot.
Tap card to mark done - 07
Pour the warm creamy marinara sauce and…
Pour the warm creamy marinara sauce and wilted spinach into the pot with the pasta, stirring well to combine completely.
Tap card to mark done - 08
Plate the warm pasta in a bowl
Plate the warm pasta in a bowl, sprinkling 2 tbsp parmesan cheese and 1 tbsp hemp seed evenly over the top before serving.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
Tap card to mark done
Made this recipe?
Leave a quick rating or a cooking tip for the next woman.
Your symptoms change. Your plan should too.
One good meal is a start. Your whole week is better.
Tell Lila what you like, what you avoid and which symptoms are loud today. She’ll turn that context into meals, targets and small adjustments that fit real life.