quick pasta – My Whisk and I

Double-Tomato Pasta

June 6, 2023May 31, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

250g rigatoni pasta
250g cocktail tomatoes
60g butter
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 x 385g tins of chopped tomato, blitzed to a smooth sauce
10ml sugar
10ml salt
125ml cream

Cook the pasta as per the packet instructions. Keep warm on the side.
Slice the cocktail tomatoes in half.
Place a heavy-bottom saucepan on medium-high heat, add the butter and wait for the pan to heat up.
Add the tomato and cook cut-side down for about 4 minutes.
Remove from the pan and set aside.
Add a splash of olive oil if the pan is dry and then add the onion.
Cook on medium heat until soft.
Add the garlic and stir-fry for one minute
Pour in the tomato, sugar and salt and cook for 10-15 minutes.
Pour in the cream and stir through.
Add the pasta to the sauce and cook until the pasta is completely covered with the sauce.
Spoon the pasta into bowls and top with a spoonful of the cocktail tomato and grated parmesan cheese.

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Hummus Pasta

April 11, 2023April 7, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

This can be served warm or cold, as a fragrant pasta salad.

250g dried pasta (I used Cavatappi)
30ml olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 handfuls of baby spinach
250ml hummus
the juice and grated rind of 1 lemon
a handful of small basil leaves

Cook the pasta according to packet instructions. Reserve about a cup of the cooking water.
Add the olive oil to a large saucepan and cook the onion over medium-high heat until soft and translucent.
Add the garlic and stir-fry for one minute.
Now add the spinach and stir-fry for another minute.
Turn the heat down slightly and add the hummus.
Slowly add the cooking water of the pasta while stirring constantly. Stop adding water once it is of a consistency that will cover the pasta and still stick to it.
Add the cooked pasta and stir to coat with the sauce.
Squeeze over the lemon juice and grate the lemon over the pasta.
Taste and season with salt.

Serve the hummus pasta with grated parmesan cheese and a scattering of basil leaves.

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Mushroom Spaghetti

August 31, 2021by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

Easy, quick and fabulous!!

500g spaghetti
45ml butter
200g mixed mushrooms
200g bacon, cut into pieces
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
65ml dry white wine
250ml cream
125ml chicken stock
50g parmesan cheese, grated
a handful of parsley, chopped

Cook the spaghetti according to the instructions on the packet and keep warm while you make the sauce.
Put a cast-iron pan on to a high heat and add the butter to it.
Fry the mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and slightly caramelised. Spoon into a bowl and set aside.
Turn the heat down to medium and add the bacon to the same pan. Fry for about 3 minutes.
Add the onion and cook until translucent.
Add the garlic and the cooked mushroom and cook for another minute.
Pour in the wine and allow the wine to reduce to half.
Now add the cream, stock and grated parmesan and turn the heat down to low.
Cook for about 5 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
Add the cooked and drained spaghetti to the sauce, mix through and taste for seasoning.
Scatter a handful of chopped parsley over the spaghetti and serve.

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Zucchini – Macaroni Bake

April 22, 2021April 21, 2021by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

250g macaroni, uncooked
1 onion, chopped
50g tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can chopped tomatoes
5ml salt
15ml sugar
375ml zucchini, grated
250g cheddar cheese, grated

Preheat your oven to 190℃.
Cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the packet.
Chop the onion and cook it in a small amount of vegetable oil until soft.
Add the tomato paste and garlic and fry for a minute more, while stirring around.
Now add the can of tomatoes, salt and sugar and stir to combine.
Cook on medium to low heat for 5 minutes.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the grated zucchini.
Add the cooked macaroni, zucchini mixture and the grated cheese in a mixing bowl.
Spoon the mixture into an ovenproof dish and bake for 30 minutes or until golden.
Serve with fresh, crusty bread.