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5.0 from 33 votes

Split Pea Pesto Stuffed Shells (Vegan)

A lighter Italian dish loaded with fiber and vegetarian protein, that is low in fat and sugar.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 6
Calories: 82 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Split Pea Pesto:
  • 1 cup dry green split peas
  • 2 1/4 cups water , divided
  • 1/4 cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 to 2 cloves garlic , minced (to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
12 ounces jumbo pasta shells
Marinara sauce, for serving

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Combine the split peas and 2 cups of the water in a small saucepan over high heat, and bring them to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat and cover to let the peas simmer until tender, about 25 to 30 minutes. Drain and rinse the cooked peas and transfer them to the bowl of a large food processor.
  2. Use the same pot to cook your jumbo shells according to the directions on the package. (I like to do this while making the pesto, so that everything is ready at about the same time.) Preheat the oven to 350ºF and spread a bit of the marinara sauce at the bottom of a 9"x 13" glass baking dish. Set it aside.
  3. To prepare the pesto, add the remaining 1/4 cup of water, fresh basil, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 clove of garlic, and the salt to the food processor, and process it together with the cooked split peas. Taste the mixture and add more lemon juice or garlic if desired.
  4. Once the shells are tender, drain them and fill each shell with a large spoonful of the pesto. Arrange the stuffed shells into a single layer in the prepared baking dish and spoon additional marinara sauce over the top of each shell. Bake until everything is heated through, about 25 to 30 minutes. Serve warm, garnished with fresh basil.

Nutrition Information

Calories 82kcal (4%) Carbohydrates 15g (5%) Protein 6g (12%) Sodium 377mg (16%) Potassium 7mg (0%) Fiber 6g (24%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 300IU (6%) Vitamin C 2.5mg (3%) Calcium 20mg (2%) Iron 1.8mg (10%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 82

% Daily Value*

Calories 82kcal 4%
Carbohydrates 15g 5%
Protein 6g 12%
Sodium 377mg 16%
Potassium 7mg 0%
Fiber 6g 24%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 300IU 6%
Vitamin C 2.5mg 3%
Calcium 20mg 2%
Iron 1.8mg 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.