Does anybody else crave loads of lemon during the summer? I sure do and that was the inspiration for this recipe. This pasta sauce is loaded with fresh lemon juice. In other words, if you don’t like lemon, then skip this recipe, hahaha. It’s tangy, creamy, smooth and with a good kick of black pepper. Remember, I’m a lemon pepper fan….this dressing is one of my favorites.
This recipe comes together in a flash too. Super simple with just 7 ingredients and ready in about 30 minutes! Nothing complicated.
I was recently contacted by Explore Cuisine when they asked if I’d be willing to try out and review their organic edamame pasta. I don’t do these types of product posts very often since I’m super picky about what I post, but hey, it’s pasta, lol. And the only ingredient is soybeans, no other weird additives, so I was eager to try it.
Things I love about the Explore Cuisine Edamame Pasta:
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Organic
- non-GMO
- Kosher
- Just one ingredient
- 25g or protein and 11g of fiber in just 2 oz (tell me again you need meat for protein??)
- Cooks in 3-5 minutes
This gorgeous pot they sent me came with an amazing strainer that made cooking the pasta SO much easier. It will be an awesome lifesaver for me. Check out the details of it in my video below!
Also, a total surprise, they sent me this gorgeous personalized cutting board. Is that incredibly nice and sweet or what?!
GLUTEN FREE EDAMAME PASTA
It seriously amazed me how fast it cooked. All you do is bring some water to a boil, add the pasta, turn the heat down and simmer 3-5 minutes. I took mine out right at 3 minutes so it wouldn’t get mushy. It was aldente.
So, how did it taste?
Well, as you know, I am always 100% real with you on products.
I loved the texture. It does have a strong bean taste, so don’t expect this to taste like traditional wheat pasta. It is completely different and the bean taste is noticeable, so keep this in mind. I usually use wheat or brown rice noodles, so it was very different than I was used to. You need a strong sauce to really offset the taste in my opinion. I know many people love bean pastas. This was my first try ever at one though, so it was quite different than I was used to. I think a Thai style sauce would be really good with this since Thai or curry sauces are very strong in flavor.
With that said, I think it’s a fabulous pasta and so natural and high in protein, it’s a great healthy gluten-free choice for people who can’t have traditional wheat.
This recipe is super easy and fast to whip up. You only need 7 ingredients (+salt/pepper and water):
- lite coconut milk
- lemon juice
- cashews or gold potato
- onion
- garlic
- fresh basil
- pasta
Thank you so much to Explore Cuisine for sponsoring this post and the giveaway below. It was an absolute pleasure to try their products! Please enter the giveaway below the recipe for a chance to win a year’s supply of Edamame Pasta (1 case of 6 boxes a month, so 72 boxes). Yes, a year’s supply…whaaaat.
They are also allowing me to share a code 20EXPLORE with my awesome readers for purchases through their website. This code is good for 20% off purchases at Explore Cuisine (excluding flash sale items).
Check out my video below…I had the most fun ever making this video!
Vegan Lemon Sauce with Basil and Pasta
Ingredients
- 1/2 packed cup 80g finely chopped yellow onion
- 4 large cloves garlic minced (15g)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 13.5 oz can "lite" coconut milk See Note
- 3 tablespoons 45g fresh lemon juice (this imparts a strong lemon flavor, use less if preferred)
- 1/2 teaspoon 3g fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup raw cashews or use 1/2 cup mashed cooked/peeled gold potato for nut-free, SEE DIRECTIONS
- 8 cups water for pasta plus salt
- 8 oz pasta of choice I used Explore Cuisine Edamame Pasta
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
Note: This is meant to be a thin sauce so that it can really soak up the pasta. HOWEVER, if you want it thicker after blending, use the extra 1/4 cup cashews. I would be careful about adding too much extra potato though, if doing that version, as it can get glue-y when blending. Since I love rich and creamy, I preferred the cashew version. Although, the potato version was still delicious. If you do the potato version, it will have more of a potato soup texture, but still good.
Note 2: I recommend the lite canned coconut milk for best results. It imparts no coconut flavor and is the richest/creamiest of plant milks. Do not use light milks like almond, oat, rice, etc. or you will end up with a bland thin sauce. You could try cashew or possibly soy, but you will likely need extra cashews and I have NOT tested these so I cannot vouch for the results!
Instructions
- If using the cashew version, soak your cashews overnight if you don't have a high-powered blender. Otherwise, you don't need to soak them.
- To a large pan, add the onions, garlic and the 1/2 cup water and cook over medium heat for 8 minutes until tender and all the water has evaporated.
- While the onions are cooking, boil your water for your pasta. Make sure to salt your water well or your pasta will taste very bland and make you whole dish taste bland and nasty. If making the Explore Cuisine Edamame pasta, please note the directions on the box, as the pasta cooks in 3-5 minutes, unlike regular pasta.
- Add the milk, salt, pepper and lemon juice to the sauce pan mixture and heat through for just a minute.
- Add the sauce mixture to a blender with the cashews or potato and blend just until smooth. If using the potato, blend JUST enough until mixed. Blending potatoes too long can make them glue-ish. If you want it thicker, add more cashews OR briefly heat it back over the stove to thicken it more. The cashews will help to thicken the sauce over the stove, whisk until it thickens to desired consistency.
- Add the pasta to serving bowls and drizzle a good amount of sauce on them. Top with lots of fresh basil and extra pepper and lemon juice if desired. The basil really balances out the tartness from the lemon.
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
You can find Explore Cuisine on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
I have had edamame pasta I don’t mind it…. I use wheat usually
Awesome! Yes, I do too so it was nice to try something new!
I just found some of this edamame pasta in my pantry now I have something to make with it. Looks yummy!
This sounds so yummy. I can’t wait to try it.
I crave lemon all year round, but yes, especially during summer! This recipe looks so dreamy and like the perfect mix of light and hearty! 🙂
Thank you so much Heather! I love it year round too. Lemon is so good!
Don’t you love it when you are trying to decide what to make for dinner and your favorite blogger posts a new recipe!! You saved the day again with your lemon sauce. Very refreshing and you will love it if you are a lemon fan. I made it with rice and broccoli. Quick and easy. I’m betting tomorrow it’ll be even better..will try it as a salad dressing too.
YAY!! So happy you already made and loved it Estee! Thank you for making it so fast, you rock!
Thank you for the feedback!
Looks delicious! The only bean pasta I’ve used was black bean spaghetti. It also was one ingredient only – organic black beans – and was very good, though darker in color than whole wheat or brown rice, also better with a strong flavored, darker color sauce, to add to the eye appeal. Looking forward to trying your recipe.
I have tried all the Explore cuisine pastas and love them all, especially their one ingredient and quick cooking times.
Yes, so easy!
This dish looks delicious! There are some lemon fans around my house, so I should make this. We’ve had black bean pasta before, but not soybean.
I Love these edamame noodles and have made this pasta several times when I need a quick comfort meal. I think the taste is good and strong so I mix it w/ soba noodles ( cooked separately). The soba noodles are a nice contrast to the strong edamame noodles I serve it cold with fresh basil, fresh lemon juice , fresh cherry tomatoes and coarse black pepper. I will try your version for a hot quick meal.
I love your sexy video!
That is awesome Lucy! So funny, you basically just described my recipe above, haha! Minus the creamy part. So funny, I was planning on adding sundried tomatoes too, which I bought last week but when I went to grab them for the photos/video, I couldn’t find them anywhere. Then, today as I was pulling in my garage I drove over a glass jar and it busted everywhere…guess what it was, the sundried tomatoes, LOL!I think they would be yummy in this too.
Awww, thank you so much and so glad you called it “sexy”, lol! I wanted that vibe since you know, it’s pasta and to me, pasta gives off that vibe 🙂
SUMMER!! That’s what this bowl and these flavors and those lovely lemon slices scream to me. Sweet or savory I love lemony things in the summer too, and I am actually a huge lemon + black pepper fan as well (woohoo we agree!! lol) And since I know you never skimp on flavor I am betting that sauce is packed and perfectly balanced between tangy and peppery. I love a good pesto, but honestly a creamy lemony sauce with fresh basil mixed in sounds so much yummier to me. I always appreciate your honesty with recipes and products, even though how it’s possible to make pasta from just one ingredients still eludes me. But I’m glad someone has figured it out because sometimes nothing hits the spot like a big twirly messy sauce-dripping forkful of the stuff! I think the only legume pasta i’ve tried is chickpea and it was okay but not my fave. For me texture is usually the issue, so this may be more up my alley. Totally craving this for dinner right now, and I bet it would taste really good chilled almost like a pasta salad too!
Thank you Natalie! I agree, lemon is fantastic in both sweet or savory. You really can’t go wrong with lemon! Yes, I almost did a pesto with this pasta…that was my original intention, but then a lemon started yelling at me, and boom, this sauce was born. Haha! I have a box of chickpea pasta in my pantry as well and have been scared to try it, lol. I hate chickpeas on their own, so I’m thinking it would gross me out. I am pretty darn picky, so it’s probably going to sit there until the end of time, haha.
I will keep an eye our for this pasta, I’ve not seen Explore Cuisine before. Love lemons on just about everything. We have a meyer lemon, which I think is a bit milder than a regular lemon, do you think I need to adjust the amount used or anything? Thanks for sharing!!
Hi Heidi! I would just add the 3 Tbsp and after blending, taste it and add more if you like 🙂
I will keep an eye our for this pasta, I’ve not seen Explore Cuisine before. Love lemons on just about everything. We have a meyer lemon, which I think is a bit milder than a regular lemon, do you think I need to adjust the amount used or anything? Thanks for sharing!!
Al and I were only talking yesterday that we haven’t had edamame pasta for a long time and miss it!!! Your recipe looks delicious Brandi! I can’t wait to try it 💖
When you ask about our favorite pasta do you mean the actual type of noodle or are you asking about a pasta dish? Since I don’t have any allergies I prefer whole wheat pasta cooked al dente. I hate mushy pasta!
Yes, I just meant the type of pasta like wheat or rice, etc. 🙂 I’m so with you girl, not a fan of mushy pasta! Eww!
I try to eat pasta that has more fiber and protein than just the usual pasta in a box from the store. I love all kinds of pasta so I can’t really pick a favorite. I think different ones go well with different sauces.
Looks like another winner here, Brandi! Love how thick the sauce looks, and of course, that it only takes a few ingredients. You rock!
Thank you so much Nicole!
WOW!! That cutting board is so beautiful!! And the pot…you lucky girl!! I’ve never tried these noodles before (since I can’t do soy), but I’ve heard really great things about them. Gotta love a quick cooking, high protein noodle option!! But this sauce. Oh, my!! Gimme all the lemon! This sounds SO delicious and now that I’m good with nuts again, you better believe I’ll be giving this sauce a try REALLY soon ❤️
Always looking for new pasta type dish for those quick dinner moments. The sauce looks fresh and light, the pasta something to be tried-tasted…
I do have a favorite kind of pasta that is nearly impossible to find whole wheat – alphabet pasta! I loved it as a kid, and that’s never gone away. However, since I don’t eat Chef Boyardee any more, I have to choose other options! 🙂
I like black bean pasta so I bet this is even better!
I’ve tried black bean pasta and lentil pasta. I’m curious to try edamame.
I usually use a konjak pasta to cut down on calories, but, funnily enough, wanted to try this pasta when I glimpsed it on the shelf!
I would think that adding asparagus steamed slightly and or spinach at the last moment would also be very good with this even English peas
This pasta looks and sounds amazing!!
I don’t eat much pasta ~ I’m diabetic and it always seems like there’s too many carbs in the just the pasta alone. I just looked up the nutritional info on the edamame pasta . ~ holy cow! its low in carbs and 22 grams of protein?! Sign me up! Thanks for another amazing looking recipe to try! 🙂
I love their black bean noodles and lentil lasagna sheets.
This looks delicious! Perfect for a summer dinner!
I Love this pasta. They had it at Costco so I bought it and tried it and it’s my new favorite pasta. Plus, you can’t beat the protein count. Ah-mazing!
Love lemon with creamy sauces! And I just went through a few of these boxes myself for the recipe I’m making with them! I agree with you too, since it has a bean taste you’ll need something to either go with that or something that covers it up. But I love how fast it cooks and it’s good when mixed with regular spaghetti for an extra protein boost without much bean taste!
I’ve never tried edamame pasta but I really like nibbling on edamame so I’d totally be up for trying it! Your sauce seems divine.
Oops! I forgot to mention that we eat Trader Joe’s whole wheat pasta. Much more flavorful then white pasta.
I LOVE this edamame pasta! We always make it for people when they come over, usually with a basil pesto. We’ve also been big fans of black bean and chickpea pastas. I love the taste of beans, so for me a light sauce is perfect! This one is kind of nutty, which is nice. It’s also the perfect length to twirl on a fork 😉
I’ve been craving lemon, too! I’m so excited to try this sauce recipe. Thanks!
I like using the shell shapes! I eat whole wheat organic because it’s healthier. =)
I am trying to make this and I did not soak the cashews and it turned very watery and not creamy at all so what is it that you do to make it creamy cuz this is okay but needs the creamy
Hi Jean, that is why I have noted to soak the cashews overnight because unless you have a strong blender like a vitamix, then it won’t 100% puree the cashews and therefore, there would still be bits of cashew making the sauce more runny. Did you use the coconut milk? Did you cook the onion/garlic with the 1/2 cup water until all the water is gone? This sauce isn’t very thick to begin with to allow for it to mix well with the pasta, but it IS creamy and not watery at all. The coconut milk alone makes it very creamy. I’ve also noted in step 5 that if you want the sauce thicker, you can add more cashews or the sauce back to the stove and heat it up and the cashew cause the sauce to thicken some. However, if your cashews are not totally pulverized, it will have more difficulty. I’ve had many people make this and theirs all turned out creamy so I hope these questions help troubleshoot. Let me know!
Looks so delicious and creamy! I love Explore Cuisine noodles…so good!
Thank you so much Nadia! It was really creamy!
Thank you so much for the nut free version! My adjustments for nut-free never seem to hit the mark so this is really wonderful to find! …now I’ll have to go through your entire website …and buy your cookbook …and move next door to you … 😉
Thank you for posting this recipe. I can ad this to my go to weekday recipes. I have been using Explore Cuisine for months and it’s the only pasta I use. When it’s on sale at our local grocery store, I buy two of each kind. And I have tried them all! So good!
Too bad I am from Canada, I don’t think I am eligible for the 1 year supply draw! 😥 It’s okay, my pantry is full of it right now! 😁
I made this for dinner last night with red lentil pasta, it was SO AMAZING!!! Husband loves it too, we just kept looking at each other and saying how is this this good???? lol
So wonderful to hear that Jackie! Thank you so much for making it! Would you mind to please give it the star rating below the box, the ratings are really helpful for me, thank you!
I made this tonight, and WOW – quick, easy, and flavorful! I am a huge lemon fan, so I can see this becoming a staple recipe in my regular rotation. Start to finish, I would say it took me 20 minutes. I followed the recipe for the sauce exactly (but paired it with gluten free pasta) and it came out perfect! The lemon, garlic, and basil pair so well together. I found the consistency to be just right, so did not add extra cashews. I topped it with dried basil because fresh basil is not in season. I cannot wait to try it with fresh basil!
Hi! Im planning on making this recipe…. For step #4 I’m a little confused on where to add the milk… to the pasta or to the sauce mixture?! Thanks!
Hi! You are adding it to the sauce pan mixture 🙂