Sunday 4/9 - Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Broccoli
Jessiegirl's post about Nava Atlas' Vegetarian 5-Ingredient Gourmet inspired me to crack it open last night, after having it on my shelf for years and not making anything from it. I chose the Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Broccoli because, as I've said before, I have one whole kitchen cabinet devoted to various sizes and shapes of pasta. It's a little ridiculous considering how seldom I eat regular old pasta these days, but once upon a time it was a staple in my diet and I still buy a box every now and then out of some weird compulsion to stockpile food. I do it with other things too. You should see all the cans of beans and diced tomatoes I have hanging out up there.So anyway, lots of pasta. I was also intrigued by the sun-dried tomatoes. I have a very tenuous relationship with tomatoes - I only like them when they're cooked to death. Mostly it's a texture thing. And a taste thing. Basically I just really hate raw tomatoes. I'd never had sun-dried ones before tonight, but I always kind of thought I'd like them. And what do you know, I was right.
This dish is very, very simple, in keeping with the theme of the book. It's just pasta mixed with steamed broccoli, sliced sun-dried tomatoes, and a little olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and eat up. The original recipe calls for parmesan cheese as the 5th ingredient, but of course I left that out. So what we have here is a lightning-quick, dead simple meal that tastes pretty damn good. What more could you want, really?
Score: 10. I love a heavily-spiced dish with layers of flavor as much as the next person who loves that a lot, but sometimes you just want something that's fast and simple and tastes good. Look no further.
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Freaking yum, that is absolutely my type of meal. I sometimes stock pile pasta too, and even though now I'm into soaking my own beans, I still have cans of them in my cupboard. Barilla is my favorite of the cheap pastas, and when we're broke I look for the 5/$4.00 sales ; )
Posted by
jess (of Get Sconed!) |
1:42 AM
I don't have too much of a pasta preference, so I usually just get whatever is cheapest. I just wish my grocery store carried more in the way of whole wheat pasta.
Posted by
Amanda |
7:51 AM
I love whole wheat pasta. I think we buy Ronzoni (i'm really bad with names) it comes in a brown box. There aren't many shapes at least in my store but the taste is subtle - a lot like regular pasta. I've had other brands that tasted more like pasta shaped cardboard than anything else.
Now i'm on the hunt for sundried tomatoes that are not packed in oil.
Posted by
Jessica Johannesen |
8:33 AM
I usually get Bionaturae brand, because that's what my health food store carries. They also have all sorts of pasta made from other grains - spelt, kamut, brown rice, corn. I've never tried any of these, but I'm pretty intrigued by them. I found my sun-dried tomatoes in the produce section; my grocery store had both oil-cured and dry. I got the dry ones, and they're actually still pretty moist.
Posted by
Amanda |
9:19 AM
This might be a good idea for the kamut spirals I got this weekend. I love sun-dried tomatoes too and now I wonder why I haven't used it since that yummy couscous salad last month.
I love your phtos, btw.
Posted by
Flo @ Yielded Heart |
12:48 PM
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Posted by
jess (of Get Sconed!) |
2:04 PM
I've tried kamut veggie spirals and I have no complaints. I'd suggest eating them with a marinara sauce though. I prefer whole wheat pasta, and buy at least one bag when I'm at Trader Joe's. I like doing half whole wheat, half white pasta sometimes, but my boyfriend prefers one or the other (preferable white). I've tried corn pasta and did NOT like it.
What were the basics of this dish?
Posted by
jess (of Get Sconed!) |
2:05 PM
That does sound simple and yummy. I even have all those ingredients at home right now, maybe for dinner tonight. Can you give us the quick directions? I think I would also add some garlic and sautéed onion to this because I think garlic and onion belong in every pasta dish.
Posted by
Shananigans |
3:20 PM
kaivegan - Thanks. :) I've never had kamut pasta, but sun-dried tomatoes and couscous sounds amazing!
jess - I have to admit that when it comes down to it I prefer white pasta. I don't dislike whole wheat, and I eat it when I can because I know it's better for you, but white pasta... damn. Wheat does fill me up better, though. I've heard that corn pasta has a really weird texture, so now I know to definitely stay away from it.
This is super simple to make. Cook however much pasta you want, then toss it with steamed broccoli, sliced sun-dried tomatoes, and a little olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and eat. For two people, I steamed 1 medium-sized crown of broccoli, sliced a headping 1/4 cup of sun-dried tomatoes, and mixed in 1 Tbsp of oil.
shananigans - I agree about garlic. I thought about adding some, but decided to make it as written the first time around. I gave Jess the run-down right above here. :)
Posted by
Amanda |
4:01 PM
I totally (used) to stockpile canned beans and tomatoes...I think because of all the cooking programs and reading I've done urging you to ALWAYS have a stocked pantry, that way you can whip up anything at a moments notice. Now I prefer to make most of my beans from scratch, maybe once a month or so.
anyway, looks yummy! I rarely eat pasta, but posts like this make me wish I did more.
Posted by
Merce |
7:23 PM
I made this last night with whole wheat penne regatta. I also threw in some garlic (3 cloves, I love me some garlic) and a few yellow bell pepper strips and some "chicken" seitan. I also added some additional spice with some crushed red pepper and a few shakes of Italian herb seasoning. It was pretty good, I'd make it again. I think it this would be great with pine nuts.
Posted by
Shananigans |
1:26 PM
ms. mercedes - I don't ever really eat pasta anymore, and mostly I don't miss it. It wasn't a conscious thing, I just kind of grew tired of it. I like to soak my own beans, but I never know what to do with all of them once I've done it.
shananigans - I love how you added like 5 things to it. :) I had to resist the temptation when I was making it myself, because I sometimes make the mistake of associating simple with bland. This isn't the best thing I've ever eaten, but it's good and easy. Two things that I like in food. Also two things that I like a man. Zing! ;)
Posted by
Amanda |
6:20 PM