Monday, February 18, 2013

Minty Creamy Vegan Pasta


          My daughter loves Italian food, I send her pasta for lunch at least once a week, but since I make it in the morning in a hurry, it's mostly pasta mixed with some pasta sauce and cheese. Only when I make pasta during the weekends, that I try out something different. Though I like cheese, I try to avoid it owing to the high fat, at the same time I try to bring the creaminess using other ingredients, this Minty Creamy Pasta is one such effort and it tasted really delicious. Since mint gives such a lovely flavor to pasta I  have added it, but guess what I have used for the sauce..

Need To Have

  • Multi Grain Elbows - 11/4 cup
  • Button Mushrooms - 3 cups, sliced
  • Garlic - 2 cloves, chopped finely
  • Ground Black Pepper - 1/2 teaspoon
  • Chopped Mint - 2 tablespoons
  • Salt - to taste

For The Sauce

  • Quaker Quick Cooking Oats - 2 tablespoons
  • Cashews - 8
  • Dry Oregano - 1/2 teaspoon
  • Dry Basil - 1/2 teaspoon

Method


          Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the box. Grind together all the ingredients given for the sauce, adding a little water.


          Heat some olive oil, add the chopped garlic and saute till it starts turning golden and gives a nice smell. Now add the mushrooms and salt and keep sauteing on medium heat, till all the water released by the mushrooms dries up and they are cooked.


          Now add the ground paste and mix, add about 1/2 cup or more of the water used for cooking the pasta and the pepper powder. Keep mixing for about 2 or 3 minutes, if it dries up, add some more water.


          Then add the cooked pasta and mix well. Finally mix in the chopped mint and serve it warm.


Note
Don't overcook the pasta, otherwise the whole dish will be mushy.
Always the final dish should have a slightly thin sauce, otherwise, as it cools the pasta will become too thick and dry.
If you want more sauce and less pasta, increase the sauce ingredients.
You can also add some red chilly flakes if you like.
Pin It

29 comments:

  1. grt sauce.. goes to my do list.. m lovong the version..

    ReplyDelete
  2. never thought of using oats to prepare sauce.. liked your version hema..

    ReplyDelete
  3. The pasta looks great! Just the right amount of sauce. Mint must have given it a great flavour.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Creamy and delicious,quite filling

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lovely sauce..shouldve been aromatic

    ReplyDelete
  6. creamy and filling pasta.. kids will love it

    ReplyDelete
  7. wow... pasta looks awesome... creamy and delicious...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oats in the sauce. That is so good and inspiring. Will try it myself next time

    ReplyDelete
  9. Very innovative idea ...Bookmarked :-)
    Loved it Hema !!!
    shrutirasoi

    Today's Recipe
    Dal Palak/Spinach Dal

    ReplyDelete
  10. i wonder why i never thought of combining pasta and mint till date... brilliant idea Hema

    ReplyDelete
  11. wow oats and cashew... nice idea dear. pasta looks so flavorful

    ReplyDelete
  12. wow i love this dish. out of all forms of those noodles i feel the elbow one gets top marks from me
    u made it very very healthy way

    ReplyDelete
  13. creamy and yummlicious pasta with oats.

    ReplyDelete
  14. wow..
    nice way to include oats, love this recipe :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Can guess how delicious pasta will be, love here the addition of oats,sounds awesome Hema.

    ReplyDelete
  16. ummmm...looks yummy...I am such a pasta fan...

    your pics are too good

    ReplyDelete
  17. wow delicious and yummy pasta dear,love this healthy version...

    ReplyDelete
  18. This version of the sauce is such a healthy variation!

    ReplyDelete
  19. this looks fabulous... mouth watering...

    ReplyDelete
  20. Delicious and creamy pasta i love it super :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. i love Italian food looks delicious . am start craving for this :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. looks great .. yummy :)) thanks for share .. i will try this ..

    ReplyDelete