Creamy Tomato Pasta - Home style

Pasta is a favorite amongst my kids. They have grown up eating plain cooked and salted pasta (various shapes and colors) since childhood as it was a nutritious alternate to Rice and could be eaten on their own without me feeding it to them.

Back in India, I found couple of stores (some are chains) that provide Pasta at premium prices, directly imported from Italy or US. In comparison to Indian snack or meal options, Pasta is quite costly (4x).  For example: Poha or Suji (Rava) is  30 Rs. per Kg, Pasta is 110-125 Rs per 0.5 kg. However, I spoil my kids sometimes by giving them Pasta dish. When ever they hear that's for dinner,  they shout a Yay! and the good part is I send left overs as lunch option as their school allows it where as Pizza is completely prohibited.

Since I started writing the blog, I have been interested in turning my meals into masterpieces (well, atleast I try) - all homemade. So, this time instead of using a Pasta sauce from outside, I decided to make my own. Also, since kids love cheese, I added cheese into the sauce and made it creamy. It was a very quick fix meal and everyone including the adult in my family loved it..

Creamy tomato Pasta
 
Ingredients
500 g Pasta (any type)
1-2 of Onion
4-5 cloves garlic
1 Kg Tomatoes
1 Tbsp - Italian herb mix
1 tsp - Black Pepper
4-5 Slices of Processed cheese
1/4 cup milk 
4 Tbsp Extra Virgin oil
1 Tbsp Red chilli flakes (optional for heat)
salt to taste

Directions

Cook pasta in hot water with salt for 10-20 min (as directed in pack) and strain it in cold water - Keep it aside. In another pan, heat oil, and garlic, onion and green pepper. Once sauteed, add chopped tomatoes, spices and salt and cook until the tomatoes are very soft. Squash them into a fine paste. Add Cheese and let it melt in the sauce to a nice cream. If the sauce is too thick, you can add milk instead of water. Let the mix get cooked well in low heat for 10 min. Add the pasta and mix it well with Creamy tomato sauce. Serve hot with Garlic bread (Bread with sprinkled garlic and toasted on flat pan with butter or in oven).

Enjoy!

Aakkha Masoor Rice

Growing up as a south Indian eating Rice and Sambhar (spicy lentil soup), to learn to cook a dish with lentil and rice was not all that exciting. However when I saw this recipe, it intrigued me for there was no strong spices as I am used to, and yet seemed delicious.

It required the use of whole lentils similar to ones used in the Meditteranean lentil soup of Progresso brand or found in any middle eastern restaurant. I got Aakkha Masoor dal (whole Masoor lentil), another lentil usually found in grocery stores here in Pune.  Soaked the lentils and cooked them in the pressure cooker along with rice in two separate containers.  The tomato sauce that gives it the unique signature taste is simple to make as below. 

Tomato Sauce: 1 finely chopped onion, 2-3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped, 2 tbsp vinegar, green chilli (1-2), 4-5 large tomatoes chopped, 2/3 cup water, chilli flakes, salt and pepper. Saute the onion, garlic and chilli, add the tomatoes and cook for 10 min until water is absorbed. Add water and vinegar, chilli flakes and let it cook for another 10 min until the tomato sauce is slightly thick.

Layer the Lentil, Rice on the serving bowl or plate (as below) and add the tomato sauce on top. Serve hot.The presentation is the key and creates a feeling of dining in a 5-star restaurant..

When you slice into the layers of lentil and rice and eat it with the spicy tomato sauce (the vinegar brings the tangy taste to it), it brings the flavors together into a wholesome meal.

Very simple and quick to make.. the best part is the presentation ! 

Quick Bean Chile



Bean Chile is a common dish cooked in the Midwest in US served with rice or bread. Mexican chile is a variation of this that is famous in Texas and the southern states of US. In India, similar bean dishes include Chole (made with garbanzo beans) or Rajma (made with red kidney beans). At home, I also make Sambhar (lentil soup) and substitute lentils with cooked beans.

 

It is the best protein source for vegetarians and is also good for heart as it lowers cholesterol. It could be recommended for diabetics as it has loads of fibre that slows sugar intake into blood.

 

Quick Bean Chile: The little big vegetarian book - Page 426 

Ingredients for Chile: All kinds of beans (garbanzo beans (yellow, red and brown); Kidney beans (red, black, brown); pinto beans, fava beans, lima beans); 250 g (1 cup) homemade tomato sauce (see recipe below); 1 bay leaf; garlic (5 cloves); 1 tsp chopped cilantro, 1 tbsp chopped parsley; salt and black pepper for taste; 2 fresh red or green chile; 2 onions chopped, 1 tbsp ground coriander, seeds from 4 pods of cardomon, 1 tbsp grated ginger; 2 tbsp butter and 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil.

 

Cook the beans separately in pressure cooker with salt. Heat oil and butter and saute onion, garlic and spices for 7-8 mins until brown. Pour the tomato sauce (see recipe below), add the cooked beans and bay leaf. Mix and cook in medium heat for 15 min. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with parsley/cilantro. Serve hot with bread. I served it with butter roasted Pav (similar to burger bun).

 

  

 

Homemade tomato sauce (3 cups)

Ingredients: 4-5 cloves of garlic, 6 tbsp extra vigin oil, 2 tbsp finely chopped oregano (used powder), 1 tbsp finely chopped marjoram (used powder), 1 tbsp finely chopped basil (used powder), 1 kg tomato peeled and chopped (used with peel); 60 g sundried tomatoes (did not use), salt and black pepper to taste, 2 fresh red chile (used green chile).

 

Saute the garlic in oil, over low heat for 2-3 min, add the spices and tomatoes and let it cook until tender. Season with salt and pepper, squash the tomatoes and cover with lid and let it cook for 30-45 min over low heat. Goes well with Pasta, Pizza (if you heat it longer to make it thicker), and rice.

 

The chile was excellent with Italian flavor (similar to thick Minestrone soup that you will get at Pizza Hut or any Italian joint). Went very well with Pav. Great variety for bean lovers.. check it out..