Whole Grain Lentil Pasta with Vegetable Sauce | Quick and Easy Meal

Here is a weeknight meal which is not only wholesome and hearty but also a very tasty and nutritious meal. It is a very quick and easy recipe for weekdays or lunch box meal.

Kids will love this pasta and if not, will want more!

Recipe goes like this:

Ingredients

2 cups - Whole Grain Lentil Penne Pasta (cooked Al Dente, use any preferred pasta of choice)

1 cup - Reserved Pasta Water

2 or 3 - Tomatoes (medium size, chopped)

1 - Carrot (large size, roughly chopped)

1 - Red Bell Pepper (medium sized of any color, roughly chopped)

1 - Zucchini (chopped or sliced)

1/4 cup - Asparagus (sliced 1/2 inch thick)

1 tbsp - Mixed Herbs (of your choice, I used Basil, Oregano and Thyme)

2 tbsp - Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt to taste

1 tsp - Black pepper (freshly ground)

1/2 tsp - Dried red chili flakes, Optional (alter as per your liking)

1/4 cup - Milk, Optional (any milk of your choice, I would prefer almond milk , cow's milk 2% or whole milk)

1/4 cup - Mozzarella Cheese (shredded, or any cheese of your choice)

1 tsp - Garlic (freshly minced, alter according to your liking)

Method

1. Cook the pasta, according to the instructions on the box. Drain and keep aside. Save some of the pasta water.

2. In a Saucepan, add olive oil and garlic. On medium heat toast the minced garlic until the raw smell vanishes and a fragrant garlic smell starts to fume, off the pan.

3. Add a part of the herbs (if unavailable, use dried herbs) and a part of the red chili illi flakes and mix well. Quickly add carrots, zucchini’s, red bell peppers s and asparagus. Wait till all the veggies are partly cooked, add salt to taste, add in the tomatoes and mix well and allow it to cook. Add 1/4 cup pasta water into the pot if the bottom starts to dry up or burn.

4. Now, add the milk and once you see a boil, add black pepper, rest of the herbs and allow the sauce to thicken a bit.

5. Add Pasta and cheese, mix well carefully without breaking the pasta. Add the remaining pasta water if the pasta sauce is dry, avoid if the sauce is watery. Add a drizzle of salt and red chili pepper flakes, only if needed and a tiny drizzle of olive oil to finish. Serve hot and enjoy!

Serves 3-4 people

Note :

1. Use any type of pasta of choice and cook it as per the instructions provided on its box/case.

2. For heat, use red chili illi pepper flakes or paprika powder, or cayenne pepper or any fresh green chili minced.

3. Use less salt while cooking the sauce or veggies, as you would have already salted the pasta and if you are adding cheese or dried herbs, they might have some salt content which will make the pasta very salty.

4. If you don’t prefer to add milk add more pasta water.

5. You may skip the oil and add ghee or any preferred oil of choice. Or you may skip it completely and add required amount of water.

6. Many a times, I throw in all the ingredients into a large pot on stove or into the instant pot and cook the meal in less than 15 minutes. It is a bliss to have this comfort food when you are back home after a tiring day. 

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