One Pan Spaghetti

This is one of the most easiest and delicious one pan meal which is prepared by arranging all the veggies and spaghetti in a pan and cooked along with the seasoning and water or stock. The slow cooking process helps the pasta to cook perfect with full of flavour. No extra techniques like sautéing, frying are required in this recipe and all you have to do is, arrange the veggies in the pan according to the picture given below and cook in a low flame to get a tasty and yummy pasta. Variations can also be done by including meat, pesto, tomato sauce etc. 

Recipe source - Inspired by Martha Stewart

Ingredients :

45 gms Spaghetti
10 - 15 Cherry Tomatoes, cut into halves
Handful of fresh Basil leaves
1 Onion, thinly sliced 
1 Green Bell pepper, thinly sliced
Few fresh Thyme 
1 Tbsp Olive oil 
4 Garlic pods, peeled and chopped finely
Salt to taste 
1 Tsp Soya sauce 
1 Tsp Fish sauce ( optional ) 
1/2 Tsp Pepper powder 
2 1/2 Cups Water or Chicken stock 
3 - 4 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated 

Method :

Arrange all the veggies and spaghetti as given in the picture.

Add fish sauce followed by soya sauce, olive oil, salt and pepper powder to the pan.

Add the measured amount of water or stock to the pan.

Simmer the flame and cook till the spaghetti gets cooked and becomes completely dry.

Add the grated cheese evenly on the cooked spaghetti and remove from the flame.

Serve hot.

Notes :

Preferably use non stick pan to avoid the pasta getting stuck on the pan.

Gently mix in the middle of cooking so that pasta gets evenly cooked.

Adjust the quantity of pepper and cheese according to taste bud.

Variations can also be done by adding pesto, tomato sauce, extra seasoning, olives etc.

Sausage & Basil Penne Pasta

My today's recipe is a flavourful and quick main dish prepared using penne pasta, fresh basil leaves and chicken sausages. Basil leaves is a fragrant herb which is popularly used in Italian cuisines. The strong flavour gives a refreshing taste and also includes lots of medicinal values. In this recipe, basil leaves and garlic pods are ground coarsely and further sautéed along with the sausage and pasta to give a yummy main course. Addition of parmesan cheese gives a delicious taste and flavour to the dish.

Ingredients :

2 Cups Penne Pasta, Cooked 
5 - 6 Cherry Tomatoes, cut into halves 
1 Tbsp Olive oil 
2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated 
Fresh basil leaves for Garnishing
3 Chicken Sausages, cut into small sticks

To Grind :

3 Garlic cloves, peeled 
Handful of Basil leaves
1 Tbsp Olive oil 
Salt to taste

Method :

Grind basil leaves along with garlic, olive oil and salt coarsely and keep aside. ( I have used my chopper to get this coarse texture ).

Heat olive oil in a pan and add the chopped sausages and saute for a minute.

Add the ground basil and mix well.

Now add the cooked penne pasta along with the chopped tomatoes and mix well.

Adjust salt and cook it for couple of minutes.

Add the grated parmesan cheese, toss and remove from the flame.

Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve hot.

Note :

Include a teaspoon of red chilli flakes to make this dish spicy.

Any flavoured sausages can be used for extra taste.

Sausage & Basil Penne Pasta

My today's recipe is a flavourful and quick main dish prepared using penne pasta, fresh basil leaves and chicken sausages. Basil leaves is a fragrant herb which is popularly used in Italian cuisines. The strong flavour gives a refreshing taste and also includes lots of medicinal values. In this recipe, basil leaves and garlic pods are ground coarsely and further sautéed along with the sausage and pasta to give a yummy main course. Addition of parmesan cheese gives a delicious taste and flavour to the dish.

Ingredients :

2 Cups Penne Pasta, Cooked 
5 - 6 Cherry Tomatoes, cut into halves 
1 Tbsp Olive oil 
2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated 
Fresh basil leaves for Garnishing
3 Chicken Sausages, cut into small sticks

To Grind :

3 Garlic cloves, peeled 
Handful of Basil leaves
1 Tbsp Olive oil 
Salt to taste

Method :

Grind basil leaves along with garlic, olive oil and salt coarsely and keep aside. ( I have used my chopper to get this coarse texture ).

Heat olive oil in a pan and add the chopped sausages and saute for a minute.

Add the ground basil and mix well.

Now add the cooked penne pasta along with the chopped tomatoes and mix well.

Adjust salt and cook it for couple of minutes.

Add the grated parmesan cheese, toss and remove from the flame.

Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve hot.

Note :

Include a teaspoon of red chilli flakes to make this dish spicy.

Any flavoured sausages can be used for extra taste.

Macaroni Cheese Pie

Happy Monday Folks ! Had a tiring weekend with loads of cleaning stuff and of course, with lots of delicious stuffs.. "Macaroni Cheese Pie" was one of the yummy and cheesy stuff prepared a day before, which was loaded with white sauce and cheese. I am sure, for the one who loves cheese ( like me ), it's a heavenly dish. To enhance the taste and flavor, filled the pie with Tomato and Bell pepper mixture. As, we are on fasting, baked this with veggies but chicken or sausage acts an excellent substitute.. This can be served as Main course as it is very filling and heavy. Every bite of it tasted yummmm for us... So,wanna try this ?

Here is the recipe of Macaroni Cheese pie.................

Ingredients :

1 Cup Macaroni
1 Cheese Cube, grated

For White Sauce :

1 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp All purpose Flour / Maida
1 Cup Milk
2 Cheese cubes, grated 
Salt to taste
 
For Stuffing :

1 Tbsp Butter
2 Tomatoes, Finely chopped
1 Bell pepper / Capsicum, Finely chopped
1 Tbsp Italian Sesoning
1 Tsp Tomato Sauce
1 Tbsp Chilli flakes
Salt to taste

Method :

Cook the macaroni in a salted boiling water for 10 minutes.

Drain, rinse under cold water and drain again. Keep aside.

Melt 1 Tbsp butter in a pan and add the flour.

Cook for a minute in a low flame and add milk, whisking constantly.

Heat until the mixture boils and simmer it for 5 minutes.

Add salt according to the taste and keep stirring frequently.

Now add the grated cheese and cook until the cheese has melted, then remove from the flame and
keep aside.

Heat 1 Tbsp in a pan and add the chopped tomatoes.

Saute for a minute and add the chopped bell peppers / capsicum.

Add Italian seasoning followed by salt, chilli flakes and tomato sauce.

Simmer and cook till the tomatoes turns soft.

Once done, remove and keep aside.

Grease ovenproof dish and tip half the cooked macaroni .

Pour over half the white sauce and mix well.

Now, layer the tomato capsicum mixture evenly over the macaroni.

Tip the remaining macaroni and pour the remaining white sauce.

Spread it evenly and add the grated cheese on top of it.

Bake it for 30 minutes or until the top of the pie turns brown, in a preheated oven at 200 degree C.

Once done, carefully remove from the oven and serve hot.

Veggie Macaroni Soup

I am feeling sleepy ! I am feeling drowsy ! I feel like eating hot and spicy ! I feel like slurping warm soup !

yeah ! In this monsoon, what else we utter other than these dialogues :) Only Hot and Spicy foods has the magical power of waking up our laziness in this season. And Soup is always my priority during monsoon to boost up my energy and when it is done at home with healthy ingredients, it gives immense pleasure and happiness. To make it as a complete meal, I have included Macaroni in this soup. This soup is also very special for me.... Wanna know the reason?

It goes to one of my favorite event '5 Ingredients Fix Challenge' which runs every month by an Energetic Blogger Vimala Lakshmi from "cookingclub17.blogspot.com'. Every month, 5 fixed Ingredients will be given to us along with the recipe name and Innovative dish have to be prepared. And for this July month, "Onion, Tomato, butter, Carrot and Herbs" were given as our ingredients and innovative Soup has to made, which is also perfect for this season. 

Veggie Macaroni Soup is a creamy soup with an Italian flavor which is loaded with healthy veggies and served with Macaroni to make it a complete wholesome meal. I did not strain the soup after blending since my family members loves this way. While serving, add a small piece of butter on top of the soup to make it more delicious and creamier but it is purely optional.This can also be served as breakfast or Mid-day meal with a Toasted bread or croutons.

Get ready to enjoy your monsoon with this Italian flavored creamy soup !

Ingredients :

• 2 Tbsp Butter
• 1 Onion, finely chopped
• 3 Tomatoes, finely chopped 
• 5 Garlic pods, crushed
• 2 Carrots, Finely chopped
• 1 Big Potato, Finely Chopped
• 1/2 Cup Macaroni
• 1/2 Cup Masoor dal
• Salt to taste
• 1 1/2 Tsp Paprika (Chilli powder can also be used)
• 1 Tbsp Mixed Herbs ( Oregano, Basil, and Thyme )
• 2 Cups Veg Stock

Method :

• Wash and Soak Masoor dal before starting the cooking process.

• Heat butter in a pan and add finely chopped Onions.

• Saute till it turns translucent and add the chopped tomatoes.

• Saute for 3-4 minutes in a medium flame or till it turns soft.

• Add the Crushed garlic pods followed by the chopped carrots and potato.

• Mix well and add paprika or chilli powder,herbs and salt.

• Drain water from masoor dal and add it to the pan.

• Mix well and add the measured stock.

• Simmer and cook it for 20-30 minutes.

• Meanwhile, cook macaroni according to the instructions and keep aside.

• Remove soup from the flame and cool it for 10 - 15 minutes.

• Blend it into smooth paste using blender and add it to the same pan.

• Add Macaroni and boil it for couple of minutes.

• Remove from the flame and serve warm.

Serving Options :

Serve warm with Toasted bread or Croutons.

Linking this recipe with  Lakshmi's "5 Ingredients Fix Challenge"

Spinach n Corn Pasta

Spinach and Corn make an awesome combination. This yummy combination always reminds me of "Coffee day" and "Barsita"  where they serve corn 'n spinach sandwich...Whenever we step in , my husband makes sure that he orders this before peeping into the menu ;) Actually planned to prepare sandwiches for breakfast today... but the climate (slight drizzle outside... cozy inside...) made me so lazzzzy and I woke up late for it...so prepared just a toast n nutella in a hurry at the last moment for him... Finally spinach n corn savoured in white sauce along with pasta was our lunch.... Was yummy and full tummy!!!

Ingredients :

2 Cups Pasta ( I have used Fuselli )
2 Cups Milk
4 Tbsp Flour
4 Tbsp Butter
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Dried herbs
1 Cup Spinach ( Blanched n chopped )
1/2 Cup Corn ( Fresh or Frozen )

Method :

Blanch Spinach leaves and Chop them. Keep aside.
Cook pasta according to the instructions and keep aside.
Melt butter in a pan and add the flour. Stir well along with salt and add milk.
Stir continously to avoid lumps. Cook and stir over low flame until the sauce gets thickened.
Now add the dried herbs. Mix well.
Add the corn and cook for a minute, followed by chopped spinach.
Add the pasta and stir well.
Switch off the flame and serve hot.