Red Pepper Pasta - Express Meal. (Rice & Pasta Dishes)

Member Name: terasahunt

Product:	Rice & Pasta Dishes
Date:	14/03/09 (105 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quick to make, fairly cheap, healthy.

Disadvantages: None for me.

Red Pepper Pasta - no meat allowed in this one!

This is a recipe that I adapted after trying something similar in the Co-op salad bar. Ideal for a meat alternative, and a good way of getting some of your 5 a day!
This particular recipe serves 2 people, but can easily be adapted to cater for more. If my 2 kids are having it as well then I just add extra vegetables. I still only use the 1 jar of pesto sauce (I just add a little water to it !)


Ingredients:

Small jar of sun dried tomato pesto.
Pasta spirals - quantity to suit.
1 large red pepper.
1 onion.
Handful of mushrooms.
Black pepper to taste.
Olive Oil.
Parmesan/cheddar cheese.


Method:

1. Wash and then chop the red pepper into little pieces. Place into a large frying pan with a little olive oil. Fry on low heat for approx 5 minutes. During this time, wash, peel and then chop the onion and mushrooms.

2. Add the pasta spirals into a large saucepan and cook as directed on the packet.

3. Whilst the pasta is cooking, add the onion and mushrooms to the red pepper and continue frying for approx 5 minutes. Add a little black pepper for taste.

4. Once the vegetables are starting to soften, add the jar of pesto to them. Continue frying for another 5-8 minutes.

5. Remove the sauce and pasta from heat, then add the sauce into the pan of pasta. Stir well and serve.

6. Add a little parmesan or even cheddar cheese on top, to finish.


This is a delicious, healthy, nourishing meal. It is quick to make, and also fairly cheap. The added benefit is that the pesto sauce gives the vegetables a bit of taste, so the kids don't really notice they are eating any vegetables.
It also tastes good when cold the following day - so is ideal as a lunch box filler.

Summary: Ideal as a non meat alternative.