Creamy Spinach Penne Pasta

Ingredients:

250 Grams penne pasta, cooked
3 Garlic cloves, minced
1 Onion, finely chopped
5C. Fresh spinach, washed, dried & chopped
1/2  C. Basil, finely chopped
1T. Olive oil
1T. Butter
2C. Cooking cream
1C. Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 T. Salt
1/4 T. ground black pepper

Recipe:

Start by cooking the penne pasta. Drain and keep aside.

Heat olive oil and butter in a large pan over medium heat.

Sauté the onions, garlic, salt, and pepper until lightly browned.

Add cooking cream and parmesan cheese, and continue to cook the sauce on low heat until slightly thickened.

Now add the spinach, cup by cup and keep stirring gently until it wilts.

Once the sauce is ready add the basil and cooked pasta to the pan and stir to coat.

Garnish with some more parmesan cheese and enjoy the delicious creamy spinach pasta.

Cauliflower Risotto

Ingredients:

1C. Arborio rice
½ C. White wine
2C. Vegetable stock
2T. Parmesan – Romano (grated)
1T. Lemon Juice
3T. Olive oil
Saffron (optional)

Ingredients for Puree

1 Cauliflower head (minced)
1 Onion (chopped)
6-8 Basil leaves
1C. Water
3T. Butter
Salt & Pepper

Ingredients for Garnish

2T. Garlic (minced)
3T. Cauliflower (minced)
3T. Mushrooms (chopped)
2T. Red bell pepper (chopped)
2T. Green bell pepper (chopped)
2T. Spring onion (chopped)
1T. Olive oil

Method:

Start with preparing the cauliflower puree. In a pan add the butter, basil leaves and onions. Once the onions start to sweat, stir in the cauliflower and season with salt & pepper. Cook the cauliflower on slow – medium heat without turning it brown. Add a cup of water if required. Once cooked properly let it sit for few minutes and puree using a blender. Set aside.

Take another pan and prepare for the garnish. Drizzle few drops of olive oil once heated add the garlic, spring onions, bell peppers, mushrooms and cauliflower. Saute for 6 – 7 minutes and reserve for later use.

Heat a flat pan on medium heat. Add some olive oil, once hot add the Arborio rice. Toast the rice till fragrant and then stir in the wine. Once the wine is absorbed add the vegetable stock. Keep on stirring to avoid sticking at the base. Also, you can add a dollop of butter to emulsify the rice. Add the lemon juice, cover and cook. Once the rice is almost done add the cauliflower puree and stir. This is the time when you will add the saffron, if using. Remove from the heat and add the grated cheese. Stir to mix the cheese evenly. Check for seasoning.

Pour some hot risotto in a plate, top it up with some prepared garnish and serve hot.

Pesto Chicken Pasta

Ingredients:

2C. Penne pasta
400 ml. Coconut milk
2C. Chicken (roasted & shredded)
½ C. Pesto
½ C. Spring onions (chopped)
½ C. Sun dried tomatoes
½ C. Parmesan cheese (grated)
1T. Garlic (minced)
2T. Walnuts (roughly chopped)
Olive oil
Salt & pepper

Recipe:

Cook the pasta according to the instructions. Drain, but just reserve 1/4^th cup cooking liquid.

In a pan heat some olive oil and toss in the shredded chicken, garlic, spring onions, tomatoes and walnuts. Cook for few minutes and remove in a bowl.

In the same pan add coconut milk, once it comes to a boil stir in the pesto and simmer for 5 – 7 minutes. Once reaches a thick saucy consistency add the chicken mixture and the drained pasta along with the reserved liquid.

Mix until everything combines well. Check for seasoning and garnish with grated parmesan cheese.

Serve hot.

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Classic Pesto Pizza

I got this recipe from my aunt and I liked it a lot as it’s a great alternative to a regular pizza. Less  of cheese and more of flavor!

Ingredients:

1 Pizza crust
⅛^th C. Italian 5 cheese or any mozzarella (shredded)
⅛ ^th C. Crumbled goat cheese
5-6 Cherry tomatoes (halved)
2T. Pesto
1T. Fig balsamic vinegar
Handful of baby lettuce leaves

Recipe:

Pre heat the oven at 230°.

Layer the pizza crust evenly with pesto and add a layer of shredded cheese on top.

Add cherry tomatoes and the crumbled goat cheese on the pizza crust.

Bake the pizza in the oven for 10-12 minutes.

Once it’s out from the oven add a handful of baby lettuce leaves on top and drizzle some fig balsamic vinegar.

Cut pizza into slices and serve immediately.

Bon Appetit-O !

Creamy Garlic Chicken Spaghetti

Ingredients:

200G. Spaghetti
1 Chicken breast (grilled & shredded)
2T. Butter
2T. Garlic (minced)
2T. All purpose flour
1C. Chicken broth
1C. Milk
2T. Parsley flakes
1T. Oregano
1 Onion (sliced)
6-8 Cherry tomatoes (halved)
2T. Black olives (sliced)
⅓ C. Parmesan cheese (grated)
Handful of basil leaves
Olive oil
Salt & pepper

Recipe:

Cook the pasta as instructed behind the pack, drain and keep aside.

In a sauce pan melt butter and add garlic. Cook over medium heat for 1 minute.

Now add flour and cook for one minute, stirring constantly.

Add the chicken broth and milk. Keep stirring frequently until sauce boils and thickens.

Add parsley, oregano, salt & pepper in the sauce and keep warm.

Sauté the onions, tomatoes, olives & basil in some olive oil and leave aside.

Now in a dish toss hot pasta with sauce and sautéed vegetables. Garnish with some parmesan cheese and serve immediately.