Sunday 29 September 2013

Tasty Italian for One

If you are both single and a lover of pasta like myself...then this is the perfect recipe for you! A dish full of vegetables and lean protein. A simple and quick meal if you use left over chicken and jarred or leftover roasted peppers but is full of complex flavours.

This was my creation from what I had in my fridge...enjoy! Best enjoyed with a glass of wine ;)

Ingredients:

50-80 grams of whole wheat spaghetti or egg fettuccine (dry - but fresh would be even better)
1 cup of cherry tomatoes roughly chopped
1 roasted pepper (equivalent of jarred roasted peppers) roughly chopped
250 ml of hot stock or seasoned boiled water
1\8 cup of grated cheddar or  grated Romano/Parmesan
5 button mushrooms sliced thickly
two handfuls of fresh baby spinach
1\2 cup of leftover chicken or smoked chicken diced
1/8 cup of diced red onion (brown onion is fine too)
1-2 cloves of garlic (the more the better in my opinion!)
1 Tbsp of balsamic vinegar
1/2 Tbsp of Tomato paste
1/4 cup of red wine
dried mixed herbs and salt and pepper to taste
Finely chopped parsley

Method:

  1. Get a saucepan full of well salted boiled water and get to a rolling boil.
  2. Add pasta and cook until al dente - drain and set aside 
  3. In a fry pan, saute red onion until it starts to caramelise
  4. Add balsamic vinegar, garlic, tomatoes and red peppers
  5. Cook until the chopped tomatoes start to break down then add half a cup of the stock/seasoned water and the sliced mushrooms
  6. One the 'sauce' has begun to reduce and the tomatoes have broken down even more, add the rest of the stock/water, tomato paste and the red wine.
  7. As you go add dried herbs and seasonings to taste
  8. After a couple of minutes reducing the sauce - add the cooked/smoked chicken, spinach and cooked spaghetti/fettuccine - when the sauce is a few minutes from perfection.
  9. Once the chicken is heated through, the spinach is just wilted, remove and dish onto a warm place or bowl.
  10. Sprinkle with grated cheese and freshly chopped parsley.
  11. Enjoy!
This was a lovely dinner that can be bulked out to impress crowds easily.




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