Harley Quinn Smith Has the Perfect Easy Pasta Dish

When Cruel Summer premiered in April, the 1990s-set psychological teen thriller quickly became Freeform's most watched series debut ever. For Harley Quinn Smith, who plays outspoken wild child Mallory Higgins—and the former BFF of our protagonist, Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurellia)—it came as an unexpected surprise.

“Everyone keeps saying that they’re watching Cruel Summer, which is something I’ve never experienced before,” Smith tells Glamour. “It’s a weird feeling when everyone I know is watching it, but it’s an amazing feeling too.”

The 22-year-old has had a lot of time to prepare herself. She made her film debut as a baby in 2001's Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (her dad is director-actor Kevin Smith), and has been in the business ever since. But there's something special about Cruel Summer, which has ignited social media with so many theories about which character is telling the truth and what's really going on. (Fans will find out soon enough, as the season finale airs Tuesday, June 15.)

Smith is tight-lipped on any spoilers, but is an open book when it comes to what she considers the most essential part of her filming experience: the on-set food situation.

“Being vegan, especially when you're working, is extremely challenging, but on Cruel Summer, I had the most amazing food every day,” she says. “It was so good. I genuinely miss it! I was always so stoked to get lunch because catering would make me breakfast burritos or vegan poutine or patty melts or tofu piccata. There were so many amazing creations every day.”

Smith, who's been vegan for “about four years” and a vegetarian “for about five,” says that while her diet is completely plant-based, that doesn't mean that it's healthy. “I love pasta and pizza and burritos and every carb available,” she says with a laugh. “But for me, being vegan has a mental effect on me more than anything else. I feel that I'm my most authentic, genuine self with a vegan lifestyle. I love animals so much.”

While Smith probably wishes she could have brought the on-set catering team home with her each night, instead she relied on a personal creation that she'd made in one big batch and then eat three or four times a week. “Chickpea pasta with Beyond Meat is the most basic recipe ever, super comforting, and doesn't require a lot of talent,” she says of the meatless alternative with red sauce and pasta made with chickpeas. “I'd come home from set and make this, no matter what time it was. It just makes me happy.”

It was purely by accident that the recipe came together, and that's fine by Smith. “I love all these things, so I figured they should all be combined into the perfect meal.” So, as part of Glamour's ongoing series, That Thing I Always Cook, she's sharing it with us. Bon appétit!

Harley Quinn Smith’s Chickpea Pasta With Beyond Meat

Ingredients

Banza chickpea pasta

Truff pasta sauce

Beyond Meat

Follow Your Heart Parmesan cheese

Instructions

I get the big packs of Beyond Meat and cut it into super-small pieces then throw it in a pan. Then I cook it up—it essentially crumbles with a spatula.

Add Truff pasta sauce. I use an entire jar because it’s so good. I’ll usually add chili flakes or hot sauce, because I love everything to burn my mouth.

The Banza chickpea pasta comes in all sorts of shapes. I love the spaghetti and penne pasta.

When I'm done, I top it with Follow Your Heart Parmesan cheese.

My drink of choice is always Topo Chico. I don’t know if it’s your typical pairing with pasta, but I think it’s great.

Cruel Summer is currently airing on Freeform and Hulu. You can follow Harley Quinn Smith on Instagram here.

Originally Appeared on Glamour