Vegetarian pasta
This vegetarian pasta is really fresh, takes just a few minutes to prepare and is an ideal light lunch. You can add a mixture of whatever fresh herbs you have around the house, mint is really good to add to the flavor along with the parsley. I have not included it in this recipe but give it a try. (4 people)
What you need
375g twirly pasta or any shell pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion finely chopped or grated.
2 teaspoons crushed garlic
Handful of patty pans cut into bite size pieces (about 300g is perfect)
1 red pepper sliced fairly thin
Handful of sugar snap peas (about 200g)
1 carrot julienned
250ml cream
1 tablespoon granular mustard
Palm of chopped fresh parsley or combination of your favorite herbs
The process
Cook your pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water to al dente, drain leaving a little water in the pot and then return to the pot.
While the pasta cooks put a pan on a medium heat with the oil, add the onions and cook until soft, add the garlic and cook for a further 1 minute.
Add the patty pans, carrots, peas and red peppers, cook until the patty pans are softened on the outside but still firm, stir or toss frequently until the peas are hot but still crunchy (about 3 minutes).
Add the pasta to the pan along with the mustard and the cream. Toss with salad servers or similar to combine all the flavors and allow the cream to heat.
That is that, you have a really fantastic flavor.
Adding the mint or perhaps a little chili is a very good idea, be adventurous with your tastebuds, you will love it.
You will find gem squash hard to find here though! I think you will also get a shock at the price of our meat and wine…and at the moment tomatoes are worth a king’s ransome! Have fun in Oz, love your site!
Thanks Melissa, It is so close to December now, I really can’t wait.. The meat prices I have heard about but the tomatoes.. that is a real shame. Happy days G
Totally delicious. As well as the mint and chilli I added just a little fresh oregano and then some lemon thyme.
Hi Jeanette, lemon thyme sounds fantastic in the mix, will be giving it a try.. thanks and have a lekker day G
Hi, can you please tell me what ‘patty pans’ are?
Hi Jeanette, they are from the squash family and usually sold in packs of about 10 or so. here is a pic for you.
http://www.farmersfreshmarket.org/rutherford/media/market//70-patty_pan_squash2.jpg
Cheers for now G
Thanks Graham. In Australia we call them ‘button squash’ and them come in green or yellow.
Great, now I know what I will need to ask for when I am over there in December 🙂 Really looking forward to seeing my brother.. Happy days G