Pasta with Pesto & Vegetables

Serves 3

The simplicity of this dish really amazes me.It needs very little effort,hardly any sauteing but can still be very healthy and delicious.Both my hubby and daughter are big fans of pasta dishes and this one's my favorite too!

Ingredients :

For pasta:
Pasta - 200 g
Water for boiling
Salt
Olive oil - 1 tsp
For pesto:
Basil leaves - 20 g -1 cup
Walnuts - 1 tbsp
Garlic - 1 clove
salt - 1/2 tsp - or as needed
Cheese - 1/4 cup
Pepper powder - 1/4 tsp
Olive oil - 1/4 cup - around 3 tbsp
Butter or olive oil - 1 tbsp (soften if using butter)
Vegetables:
Capsicum - 1/2 a medium one chopped
Zucchini - 1/4 of a big one chopped
olive oil - 1 tsp

Method:
-Boil the pasta with sufficient water,salt and olive oil.Drain and set aside Preserve about 3 tablespoons of the water.
-Add one tsp of oil to a pan and saute the vegetables until roasted,5-7 minutes with a little salt.
-Grind the walnuts,basil,garlic and 1/4 cup of olive oil in a blender to a fine paste.
-Transfer the contents to a bowl and beat in the cheese with a fork.
-Then add the butter and beat the mixture.If using olive oil add it in the blender in the first stage..
-Mix the pasta with 3 tbsp of the hot water in which the pasta was boiled.
Assembling:
-Add the pesto sauce to the pasta and mix good.
-Add the vegetables and toss well.Sprinkle some cheese.

Note:
The basil leaves can be replaced with Spinach leaves.

Sending to Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids - Italian Dishes and Nithu's Page &
 Continental cooking and Only Continental Giveaway Page'

Whole wheat Pasta and Cheese !

Pasta,Vegetables and cheese.

Serves one

Being a mother of a picky eater has its upside too :) My daughter has always been a very choosy eater and concocting recipes for her has been a challenge.It's difficult to find recipes which are healthy and still satisfy the taste buds of a little one.This is a very filling and healthy recipe which kids and grown ups would love .And it can be whipped up very quickly !

Ingredients :

Whole wheat pasta - around 15 -20

Vegetables:

   Broccoli - 3- 4 florets

   Peas - a handful

   Carrot - one ( peeled and chopped)

   Potato - a tiny one ( peeled and chopped)

Garlic - a tiny piece

Capsicum - 5-6 small pieces

All purpose flour - 1/2 tsp

Milk - 1/4 cup or lesser

Cheese (grated) - 2-3 tbsp

Butter or olive oil - 1 tsp

olive oil - 1/2  tsp
salt as needed

Method :

-Boil sufficient water and add salt and a tsp of olive oil.Add the pasta and let it boil until its well cooked.I usually cook it real soft when preparing for my daughter.

-Steam or boil the carrot,peas and potato.If boiling them save the water(vegetable stock) in which it boils.

-Add the butter to a pan, add the garlic and stir for a minute.Next add the broccoli and capsicum with a little salt .Sauté for a few minutes until they are cooked. Add the cooked vegetables and sprinkle the flour and sauté for a few mins.

-Add the drained pasta and mix well.Add the milk and the vegetable stock ,add salt as required. Let it cook on medium heat for a few mins.When the mixture is a little dry ,sprinkle the cheese and remove from the stove.

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Spaghetti Bolognese

Spaghetti bolognese

Serves 2 people

This is one of our family favorites and when I think about it,it's funny that I chose it to be the first recipe on my blog. Most of my childhood and adult hood  was spent in the southern part of India. I grew up with the aroma of hot sambhars and spicy chutneys. The word pasta was a totally foreign word , the truth be told i always thought noodles and pasta were the same:) After getting married and moving to Germany , i was for the first time in a kitchen and found that there were so many different tastes and cuisines to be explored. I also realized that the simplest sauce and Pasta could be as fulfilling as our own rice and gravies. This is one such dish that can be whipped up with very little preparation.

For the Spaghetti :
Spaghetti - 50 g
Water
Salt - 1 tsp
Olive oil - little

Bolognese sauce :
Tomatoes - 2 ( big)
Capsicum - 1 ( medium) - Green ones.
Paprika powder - 3/4th tsp (can be replaced with red chilli powder)
Pepper powder - 3/4th tsp
Minced meat (beef) - 250 gm
Worcester sauce - 2 tbsp ( can be replaced with 1 tbsp of soya sauce)
Tomato ketchup - 2 tbsp
Water - 1/2 cup
Olive oil - 2 tbsp

Finishing :
Grated cheese - 50 gm
Butter - 2 tbsp

Method :
- Boil a lot of water with salt, when it boils add the spaghetti and olive oil.
-Cook for 10 mins on medium or until the spaghetti is done.
- Blitz the tomatoes, capsicum and the powders.
- In a pressure cooker , add olive oil , when its heated add the minced meat and fry for 5 to 6 mins till it turns into a pale brown shade.
- Add the Worcester sauce and Ketchup and saute further for a few mins.
- Add the tomatoes and capsicum mixture,water and mix it up well. Add salt as required.
- Close the lid and pressure cook on medium for one whistle. Reduce the heat and pressure cook on low for 15 mins.
-The sauce is ready.

Assembling :
- Add the butter to the cooked spaghetti and give it a slight mix.
- Serve with the spaghetti , then the sauce and the cheese sprinkled on top.

Sending this to  Flavours of Italy and simply.food. & Dish name starts with S