Feel-Good Meals: Red Pepper Pasta

Ingredients
  • 2 bell peppers
  • 8 oz baby bella mushrooms
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 cup no-chicken broth
  • 4 oz spaghetti (use chickpea pasta for extra protein)
  • reserve 1 cup pasta water
  • salt and pepper
  • olive oil
Optional Toppings
  • red pepper flakes
  • fresh basil
  • vegan parmesan
Supplies

knife

cutting board

large pot

large sauté pan

wooden spoon

1) Prep

Put a large pot of about a quart and a half of water on to boil.  

Prepare one cup of the no-chicken broth according to package details. 

Wash the herbs and vegetables and clean the mushrooms with a wet, warm cloth.

 Remove the stems, seeds and ribs from bell peppers and then cut lengthwise into one centimeter thick strips.

Trim mushrooms and cut into half-centimeter thick slices. Halve the tomatoes and finely mince the garlic cloves. 

 (De-stem and roughly chop optional fresh basil.)

Step back and take in the beautiful, warm colors of the meal we are about to create.  Look forward to enjoying it, how delicious it will be; how the fruits of your labor will fill you with happiness and warmth. 

2) Sauté the Vegetables

Heat about a tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat.  Once hot, add peppers and mushrooms, sauté for about 8 to 11 minutes (until vegetables start to get soft and parts of them brown).  Add halved tomatoes and sauté for 5 – 7 more minutes until the skins get soft and start to curl up.  Add garlic and dried basil, stir in, and sauté until fragrant (3-5 minutes). It smells delicious, enjoy it as it fills your nose and then the kitchen.  You are making something beautiful that will also nourish you. Go you.

3) Make the Noodles

Once the water is boiling (this will happen while you are sautéing the vegetables), add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions.  Once pasta is ready, save one cup of the pasta water and then strain the noodles.  Add the reserved pasta water along with the cup of  no-chicken broth to the veggies as they sauté, after you’ve allowed the garlic and basil to get fragrant.

4) Combine Ingredients 

Once the vegetable sauté sauce thickens a little and your noodles are ready, turn the heat down on your veggies and add the noodles to the sauté pan and mix everything together.  Your feast is just about ready! 

5) Serve and Enjoy

You did it! You spent the time, you made a delicious feast, now all you have to do is put it in your favorite bowl, top it however you want and enjoy!  You took the time to take care of yourself, you made something delicious, and now you are feeding your body as well as your soul.  We hope you are as proud of yourself as we are.