Monday, October 24, 2011

Pasta Cheese-less :)



Ingredients: serves 2 (regular eaters ;))


Pasta: 2 cups
Green peppers: 1 (mid-sized slices)
Green chilies: optional  for extra spicy pasta
Onion: 1 (sliced length-wise mid sized pieces)
Shredded carrots: 3/4 cup
Cashews: 1/4 cup (halves)
Garlic paste: 1 tsp (or 2 pods)
Pasta sauce: 4-5 tbl spoons
Black pepper (grounded) : 1 tsp
Oregano: 1.5 tsp
Italian seasoning: 1.5 tsp
Salt to taste
Shredded Cheese: OPTIONAL :) as much as you want!!!


Procedure:


Pour water in a large pot and bring to boil. Cook the pasta al dente. Drain water and allow pasta to cool in a wide pan. DO NOT mix in oil since this will prevent pasta sauce from being absorbed into the pasta. Cooling pasta in a wide pan will avoid their sticking to each other.


Heat oil in a pan. (preferably a non-stick pot or wok) Add garlic paste and fry for about 30s. Add chilies and fry for about a minute. This spreads the spice in the oil. Stir in the onions and fry on high for a minute. Then, stir in green peppers, carrots and cashews. Continue frying on high for about 4-5 min until the veggies are cooked yet, crisp. Add black pepper, oregano, Italian seasoning and salt. Cook for about a minute. Stir in the boiled pasta. Add pasta sauce and mix. If you wish to add cheese, now's the time for it! Melt in shredded cheeze and serve hot!