I had always loved Italian cuisine. I tried several types of Italian dishes at home. One of the favorite dish that I try at home is the Pasta. It is a real time saver specially on those days when I return back tired from office. Whipping up pasta and having it as a meal is easier than cooking rotis and subzi or cooking dal, rice and subzi specially after returning home from office.
I try different recipes of pasta at home and I make different types of sauces too. The relationship of pasta and sauces is very romantic. They literally dance with each other if combined properly. Flat pastas and ridged pastas like fusilli and penne should be cooked in creamier sauces and thin pastas like spaghetti should be cooked in thin and lighter sauces.
Ingredients1 cup Delmonte penne pasta
8 chopped garlic cloves
5 button mushrooms
6 sliced cherry tomatoes
4 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp black pepper powder
1 tsp red chilly flakes(optional)
2 tsp Italian seasoning
Salt to taste
1.5 cups chopped cilantro leaves
10 blanched almonds(check notes)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 medium sized chopped capsicum
1 large kadai/deep bottomed pan to boil the pasta
1 flat pan to cook the pasta
1 blender to make the pesto
Method* Boil 4 cups water. When the water starts boiling add pasta and boil it al-dente.
* Drain the pasta and retain 1 cup of water in which pasta was boiled.
* While the pasta boils, keep the ingredients for pesto ready.
* In a blender, blend together peeled blanched almonds, chopped cilantro, chopped onion and chopped capsicum.
* Do not add water while blending this pesto. Once done, keep it aside.
* Meanwhile keep the other ingredients ready.
* In a pan, add olive oil. When the oil heats, add garlic and toss.
* When the raw smell of garlic goes away, add chopped mushrooms and fry them for 2 Min’s. Enjoy the garlic and mushroom smell in the meantime.
* Now add the sliced cherry tomatoes and fry for 1 Min.
* Now add the sliced cherry tomatoes and fry for 1 Min.
* Then add the pesto sauce and give everything a nice stir.
* Add black pepper powder and mix well.
* Mix the drained pasta. Add salt to taste.
* Garnish with Italian seasoning.