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NRaleighLiberal

(59,940 posts)
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 11:04 PM Apr 2013

An excellent very quick spring dinner I whipped up tonight....fast and tasty pasta dish.

I chopped up half a large sweet onion,minced two cloves of garlic, had lots of frozen red pepper pieces from last year's garden (I used about 2 cups of pepper cubes), thinly sliced a zucchini and chopped two large scallions. I got some water simmering with a steaming insert using a covered pan (for asparagus - it is coming in fresh!), and a pot of water boiling (for the pasta). I snapped two bunches of asparagus at the tender part.

So....I put about 3 tbsp olive oil into a large pan, heated to medium high, and added the onion, garlic and red peppers. I sauteed this for about 10 min over medium, until the peppers thawed out and the onions softened. I put the whole wheat spaghetti (Trader Joe brand, really good) into the pan of boiling water and set the timer for 8 minutes. Then I added the zucchini and scallion to the onion/pepper mix, and seasoned with some basil, 1 tsp or so of salt, lots of fresh black pepper, and about 1/2 tsp (or to taste) of red pepper flakes - this is stirred often and sauteed over medium heat. When there is only 5 min left on the timer, the asparagus went into the steamer.

when the timer went off, I drained the pasta, added it to the pan with the sauteed veggies and mixed well off the heat - plated this next to the steamed asparagus with a little butter, pepper and salt - and put some grated parmesan over all of it.

It tastes like spring....yum! Took 5 min to do the prep, and no more than 15 min to cook the whole thing.

give it a try!

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An excellent very quick spring dinner I whipped up tonight....fast and tasty pasta dish. (Original Post) NRaleighLiberal Apr 2013 OP
Woot! Sounds great. freshwest Apr 2013 #1
My kind of dish. Sounds great. pinto Apr 2013 #2
Oh yes - they are in there! NRaleighLiberal Apr 2013 #3
Duh, missed that. pinto Apr 2013 #4
That sounds delish! Texasgal Apr 2013 #5
Nope - just a bit of EVOO - sauce is really just the olive oil mixed with the moisture from the NRaleighLiberal Apr 2013 #6
I am bookmarking this! Texasgal Apr 2013 #7
we are getting it local at our Farmers Market - just is coming in....so we will eat it NRaleighLiberal Apr 2013 #8
sounds great...except for the zucchini, whole wheat pasta, and peppers. haha Laura PourMeADrink Apr 2013 #9
a few years ago I'd have agreed with you. I've so totally changed how I eat.... NRaleighLiberal Apr 2013 #10

Texasgal

(17,029 posts)
5. That sounds delish!
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 09:15 PM
Apr 2013

I love pasta with fresh veggies... it make the pasta stand out IMO.

This was a buttery based sauce correct?

NRaleighLiberal

(59,940 posts)
6. Nope - just a bit of EVOO - sauce is really just the olive oil mixed with the moisture from the
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 09:32 PM
Apr 2013

veggie saute. So it is light and very healthy!

Texasgal

(17,029 posts)
7. I am bookmarking this!
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 09:41 PM
Apr 2013

Thanks for the recipe! Sounds really good!

Asparagus is no longer an option here price wise anyway. I think the other items are though!

NRaleighLiberal

(59,940 posts)
8. we are getting it local at our Farmers Market - just is coming in....so we will eat it
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 09:42 PM
Apr 2013

a lot until it ends - soon strawberries, sugar snap peas - we love this time of year!

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
9. sounds great...except for the zucchini, whole wheat pasta, and peppers. haha
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 10:14 PM
Apr 2013

everything else sounds fantastic.

NRaleighLiberal

(59,940 posts)
10. a few years ago I'd have agreed with you. I've so totally changed how I eat....
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 10:16 PM
Apr 2013

lost 60 lbs, feel great - a really life changing decision. tonight was grilled tuna over collard greens sauteed with pineapple, ginger, garlic, sesame oil and hot pepper, with black rice and asparagus. YUM!

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