Spring Pea, Lemon & Hemp Pesto Pasta | Margaret River Hemp Co

Spring Pea, Lemon & Hemp Pesto Pasta

26 Sep, 2026

Fresh, green and full of spring flavour, this pasta is a simple way to put hemp at the heart of the dish. Instead of traditional pine nuts, hulled hemp seeds form the base of the pesto, giving it a soft, nutty flavour and creamy texture.

Combined with sweet peas, fresh basil, lemon and Parmesan, it makes a bright, satisfying meal that comes together quickly and feels perfect for warmer days.

Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes

📌 Ingredients

350g pasta, such as penne, fusilli or spaghetti
200g frozen peas
60g hulled hemp seeds
1 packed cup fresh basil leaves
1 small garlic clove
Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
50g Parmesan, finely grated
80ml extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
50–100ml reserved pasta water

To Serve

Extra Parmesan
Fresh basil leaves
Extra lemon zest
Hulled hemp seeds

📌 Directions

Bring a large saucepan of well-salted water to the boil and cook the pasta according to the packet directions.
Add the peas for the final 2 minutes of cooking.
Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
Remove roughly half of the peas and place them in a food processor with the hulled hemp seeds, basil, garlic, lemon zest and juice, Parmesan and olive oil.
Blend until creamy but still slightly textured. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
Return the drained pasta and remaining peas to the saucepan.
Stir through the hemp pesto, adding a splash of reserved pasta water at a time until the sauce becomes silky and coats the pasta beautifully.
Serve immediately with extra Parmesan, fresh basil, lemon zest and a light scattering of hulled hemp seeds.

Why Add Hemp?

Hulled hemp seeds work especially well in pesto because their mild, nutty flavour blends beautifully with basil, lemon and Parmesan. They also contribute plant-based protein and predominantly unsaturated fats, while the peas add extra fibre and protein.

The result is a fresh, vibrant pasta where hemp is more than just a garnish — it’s a genuine part of the sauce.

Organic Hemp Seeds

All of our Hemp seed was grown, processed, and packaged right here in Australia.

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