Friday, February 20, 2009

{TOMATO BASIL CREAM PASTA}


This is currently my favorite dish! It's a recipe from Vegan Yum Yum, with a few changes to make it easier and lower fat.

The original recipe calls for fresh tomatoes, which I think I will use in the summer time (winter tomatoes just aren't tasty enough). It also calls for fresh basil, which I use if I have it on hand, or if I want to be fancy. I eliminated the oil completely; just saute in water. (You can do this with any recipe that calls for oil to saute. It has very little effect on the taste of the end product).

2 cans tomatoes (I use diced, 'cause that's what I have)
1 c. cashews
2 T. tomato paste
1/2 t. pepper
1/4 c. water *
1/8 t. red pepper flakes (optional)

2 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. dried basil
1 lb. whole wheat spaghetti (or other pasta)
1 t. salt

• Put a large pot of water on to boil.

• Blend tomatoes, cashews, tomato paste, pepper, and water until very smooth.

• Saute garlic and basil in water until garlic is golden; be careful not to burn.

• Once water is boiling, add pasta.

• Pour sauce from blender into saute pan and bring to a simmer.

Add salt and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Once pasta is cooked, drain.

Add pasta to saute pan, and toss to coat, or just serve like spaghetti, with each person saucing his/her own pasta.

* I do not add the water when I am using canned tomatoes because the liquid in the cans makes up for it.

** Most of the time I just throw all the ingredients in the blender instead of sauteing the garlic first. It works great!!

8 comments:

Eliza said...

oooh- I love this!

Orva said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Orva said...

this is really davie, this is my fav

Lucy said...

Delicious! I made it for Brian and his brother tonight. They both loved it! Brian said it tasted like it was made at Olive Garden. I'm going to try making it for his dad-- that will be the true test!

Rebekah said...

i served this the other day with whole wheat bow-tie pasta. it was a HUGE hit with the kiddos.

Anonymous said...

Delicious! We had this for dinner tonight. I'm planning on trying the fresh tomato and basil version this summer.

marilee said...

soooo great~

Shanelle said...

This was really yummy and easy! We made it with shells, although I would have preferred it with mini bowties. My 19 month old wanted seconds. My husband really liked it too, but he said he would have liked it better with mozzarella.