| Search Sensei Talks |
|
|
| Labels |
|
|
|
| Tuesday, February 24, 2009 |
| Spicy Veggie Pasta |
I love spicy food! Now I don’t like things so spicy that I’m sweating and my nose starts to run, but I really enjoy a nice heated finish that still allows me to taste the other seasonings incorporated in the dish. Over the past few years I’ve found a way to add spices like crushed red pepper or chili paste to almost everything. Well, maybe not everything, but you get the idea. Josee makes this incredible hot oil, infused with dried peppers, that I drizzle over pizza. I keep the bottle she gave me sitting out on the counter at all times!
Growing up in an Italian family, we ate pasta dishes at least once during the week and always on Sundays. My Grandma is famous for her home grown, canned tomatoes, which make the perfect base for our family’s meat sauce. I learned how to make it before I could even see over the top of the huge metal pot. I still love to cook big pasta dinners for my friends and family, but find that our traditional recipe takes too long to prepare for a weekday (workday) meal. So to get me through my weekday pasta cravings my roommate shared her super easy spicy veggie pasta recipe with me and now I want to share it with you.
Spicy Veggie Pasta
Serves 6-8 depending on portion size
| 1 lb | spaghetti, dry (try spinach or whole wheat) | | 1 - 15 oz can | stewed tomatoes | | 1 medium | onion, sliced | | 2 cups | broccoli florets (fresh or frozen) | | 2 cloves | garlic, finely chopped | | 2 Tbsp | olive oil | | 1 tsp | dried oregano | | 1 tsp | dried basil | | 1 tsp | crushed red pepper |
Salt and pepper to taste
Warm oil in a large skillet over medium heat and brown onions until they begin to caramelize. Next add garlic, tomatoes and broccoli and simmer covered over low-medium heat for 10-15 minutes or until broccoli is fork tender. Stir occasionally.
Meanwhile, boil water in a large pot and cook noodles as directed (I like to add a little salt and oil to the water). Drain cooked noodles, combine with contents of skillet and add oregano, basil, crushed red pepper, salt & pepper. Toss well, taste and adjust seasonings. Serve topped with grated Romano or parmesan cheese.
If short on time, steam broccoli in the microwave to soften before adding to the sauce and drain some of the tomato juice to decrease the time it takes to reduce. You can also get creative by adding any of your favorite fresh, frozen or leftover veggies like mushrooms, bell peppers, asparagus or zucchini.
Enjoy!
- Lauren
Labels: Healthy Recipes, Lauren
|
posted by My Sensei @ Tuesday, February 24, 2009   |
|
-->
add to del.icio.us
|
|
|
|
|
|
