A simple and delicious pasta dish tossed in boiled or pan roasted vegetables, garlic and walnuts for a flavorful meal. This dish doesn't call for a sauce. Quick recipe!
Pasta has taken several forms over the years. Even though it has no inherent taste, there is really no right or wrong way of making it. Just make sure the flavors play well with one another. My son, like most kids is an ardent pasta lover and that has helped me explore and come up with a lot of variations to make it healthy and interesting.
A good pasta doesn't always have to be dunked in sauce or have a lot of cheese. The starchy pasta water can do wonders to the dish and give it a nice shine and taste. It's simple, flavorful, light and healthy!
Vegetables can be boiled along with the pasta as indicated in the recipe. They are just as flavorful if you want to pan roast them or steam them separately.
RECIPE
Serves 2 people Ready in 20 min
Ingredients
● 1 cup Zucchini
● 1 cup Broccoli
● 4 pods of Garlic
● 1 tsp Red pepper flakes
● 1 tbsp Walnuts or Pecans
● 2 cups uncooked Pasta
● 2 tbsp Olive oil
● 1 tsp pepper
● Salt to taste
Preparation
1. Boil pasta of choice as per package instructions. For the most flavorful pasta, bring in the water to a rolling boil, add in a tbsp of olive oil and at least 3 tbsps of salt. Then add the pasta and boil it baked on the time on the package.
2. Chop the vegetables, garlic and the nuts.
3. Heat olive oil in a pan, once hot add the red pepper flakes and the garlic. The flakes infuse a nice light red tint to the oil. make sure not to burn the garlic or the red pepper flakes.
4. Add the chopped nuts.
4. Once there is about 4 min remaining on the cooking time for the pasta to be ready, toss the chopped vegetables into the boiling water. This simplifies the process a great deal.
5. Once the pasta is cooked, reserve 1/2 a cup of the pasta water and strain the remaining.
6. Add the reserved pasta water, and the boiled pasta along the vegetables to the pan
7. Toss lightly to incorporate the flavors. Check for salt.
6. Add in a dash of pepper before serving.
Tips
Tastes great hot as well as at room temperature. Since the recipe doesn't call for any sauce, it can also be served with some Craisins as a cold side dish.
Summer squash, olives and corn also pair well with this dish. Enjoy!
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