Spicy Vegetable Pasta

Chile Oil takes this Spicy Vegetable pasta from blah to bling. Real food naturally. www.LiveBest.info

Spicy Vegetable Pasta, it’s chile oil that takes this easy pasta recipe from ordinary to extraordinary. 

How to make Spicy Vegetable Pasta

Spicy – The chile oil is what makes this dish. It took the easy pasta recipe from ordinary to extraordinary — making this a definite dinner do-over. And it is so easy to make. Heat oil, crushed red pepper flakes, garlic and salt for 3-4 minutes. Done.

Vegetable – In this recipe, I use green beans and cherry tomatoes. If you like sweet potatoes, squash, broccoli would also be good additions or substitutes.

Pasta – I used whole-grain linguini, but farfalle or penne would be just as good. It’s an easy pasta recipe, so use what you have on hand.

Ricotta – adds creaminess plus protein

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until firm to the bite. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water; drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
  2. While pasta is cooking, in a small skillet, over medium heat, combine 3 tablespoons oil, garlic, red pepper and ½ teaspoon salt. Heat and stir occasionally, until fragrant, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add green beans and cook for 8-10 minutes. Add tomatoes, season with salt. Cook until green beans are to the texture you prefer.
  4. Add green bean-tomato mixture to pasta, stir in reserved pasta water and ricotta; toss to coat.
  5. Serve in pasta bowls with a drizzle of chile oil over top.

The ingredients

  • ½ pound whole-grain linguini, could also use farfalle or penne
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 pound green beans, frozen is fine
  • 1 cup ricotta
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
spicy vegetable pasta bowl

chili oil that takes this easy pasta recipe from ordinary to extraordinary

Use this chile oil on popcorn, a dip for bread, drizzled over vegetables.

chile oil  in a bowl with spoon

infused red pepper flakes make chile oil

How much do you spend on groceries versus eating out?

If you’re like the average American, it’s an equal split. We spend as much eating out as eating in

In a report from the USDA Economic Research Service, food sales between at-home and away-from-home are even steven. We spend nearly equal amounts on foods purchased at grocery stores and foods purchased at restaurants, concession stands and other places where we’re eating when we’re not at home.

I’m not average. Are you?

It’s in my favor (and yours) to not be average. More of my dollars are spent buying food to cook at home. Oh sure, I eat out. I love exploring food when I travel. It’s fun to eat out.

But when I eat in it’s easier to eat better. For one thing, no one delivers a bread or tortilla chip basket. Plus at home, I’m not tempted by the big-as-my-head portions.

Call me a control freak. I like to be master of my universe by cooking and controlling those portions and calories.

Home cooked is healthier

A study found that people who eat the most home-cooked ones end up eating healthier food… and with about 130 fewer calories daily. That may not sound like many, but add that up over a week or year. Those sneaky calories! That’s how weight creeps up on you.

Didyaknow, taste is the number one reason people choose the foods they do? It’s not the cost. It’s not the nutrition. It’s the yummy.

Restaurants survive by knowing how to tempt us with flavor. But home cooks can meet the taste challenge. Certain cooking techniques can exponentially punch up your cooking results.

How to improve taste with flavor

  • Searing meat deepens flavor
  • Drizzling hot sauce intensifies flavor
  • Roasting veggies provides flavor
  • Caramelizing onions enhances flavor
  • Squeezing citrus brightens flavors

Even more, flavor is an effective way to reduce sodium, sugar, and fat – that actually tastes good! So your home cooking gets even better for you.

How to use spices and herbs to take your food from blah to bling

  1. Add a pinch of thyme when cooking mushrooms.
  2. Sprinkle of red chile flakes to eggs, bean dip, hummus or a roasted red pepper dip.
  3. Stuff fresh herbs under chicken skin before roasting.
  4. Toss popcorn with smoked paprika or ancho chile to spice up your snack. Or stir a little bit of chile into hot chocolate.
  5. Add rosemary to bean dip.
  6. Mix curry powder into chicken salad or egg salad.
  7. Add fresh herbs to vinaigrettes or make herb dip with yogurt.

Pin it for later!

bowl of spicy vegetable pasta with ramekin of chile oil nearby

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Whole-grain pasta with green beans, tomatoes, ricotta and chile oil

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Spicy Vegetable Pasta, it’s the chile oil that takes this pasta from ordinary to extraordinary — making this a definite dinner do-over. And it is so easy to make. Heat oil, red chile flakes, garlic and salt for 3-4 minutes. Done.

  • Author: Judy Barbe
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: stove
  • Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Scale
  • ½ pound whole-grain linguini, could also use farfalle or penne
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 pound green beans, frozen is fine
  • 1 cup ricotta
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until firm to the bite. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water; drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
  2. While pasta is cooking, in a small skillet, over medium heat, combine 3 tablespoons oil, garlic, red pepper and ½ teaspoon salt. Heat and stir occasionally, until fragrant, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add green beans and cook for 8-10 minutes. Add tomatoes, season with salt. Cook until green beans are to the texture you prefer.
  4. Add green bean-tomato mixture to pasta, stir in reserved pasta water and ricotta; toss to coat.
  5. Serve in pasta bowls with a drizzle of chile oil over top.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1.5 cups
  • Calories: 470
From blah to bling, easy flavorful cooking techniques. Searing, cartelizing, squeezing citrus. Real food naturally. www.LiveBest.info

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