Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad

Ingredients

1. 2 chicken breasts

2. 1 tbsp of Dijon mustard (grainy)

3. 1 tsp of honey

4. 1 tbsp of Olive oil

5. Salt and freshly ground pepper

6. 2 cups of fusilli (colored) cooked until al dente (pasta)

7. 5 Lemons (juiced)

8. 1 cup of sun dried tomato dipped in oil.

9. 1 Jalapeño chopped

10. Dash of Hot sauce

Directions

For Chicken:-

1. In a tray add Dijon mustard, honey, oil, salt and good amount of pepper and juice of 2 lemons.

2. Whisk well and rub your chicken with your hands in this mixture.

3. Leave it for 10 minutes and in the mean time heat the grill.

4. Now grill the chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side. When your chicken is ready let it sit for 2-3 minutes before cutting.

For Pasta:-

5. In the mean time make your pasta ready.

6. In a mixing bowl add juice of 3 lemons, salt and pepper and 2tbsp of olive oil, a dash of hot sauce

7. Put the pasta in the mixing bowl and toss well.

8. Now add sun dried tomatoes to it and stir.

9. Finally slice up the grilled chicken and lay it all over the top.

10. Garnish with jalapeños and serve.

-Chitra

Home Alone Quick Fix Pasta

Ingredients

1. 2 cups of shell pasta or any pasta ( I have used Colorful circular pasta, as this holds the sauce very well)

2. 2 thinly sliced onions

3. 2 small diced tomatoes

4. Salt and Pepper to tatse

5. 2 tsp Olive Oil

6. 2 tsp of red wine Vinegar

Directions

1. In a deep pan add 4-5 cups of water to boil the pasta.

2. When the water starts boiling add 2 tsp of salt to flavor the pasta.

3. Now add Pasta and cook till al-dente.

4. In a non stick pan add oil on medium heat.

5. Now add Onions and sauté them.

6. Then add tomatoes and close the lid and cook till tomatoes burst open and the liquid is scattered.

7. Now add the ½ cup of pasta water and stir well.

8. Add Salt and Pepper and toss.

9. Garnish with vinegar and Serve yourself a big bowl of Pasta. You can even garnish with chopped parsely or cilantro of your choice.

10. Now even if you are home alone, it is quickest pasta ever.

-Chitra

Saucy Mediterranean Pasta

Ingredients

1. ½ bag of spiral colorful pasta

2. ½ cup of chopped black Spanish olives

3. ½ cup of pickled vegetables

4. 2 big tomatoes chopped or 1 big can of crushed tomatoes

5. 1 big onion chopped

6. 3-4 florets of broccoli

7. 2 tbsp of olive oil

8. 1 tbsp of garlic minced

9. 1 tbsp of dry thyme powder (use fresh leaves if you have)

10. Salt and Black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Fill a big pan with water for pasta and set it to boil with lid closed.

2. In another non stick pan add olive oil.

3. Add garlic and onions and cook till golden brown.

4. Now add Tomatoes and cook for another five minutes.

5. In the mean time add salt to boiling water for flavoring pasta and add pasta to cook. Close the lid and let it cook.

6. Now return to tomatoes mixture and add broccoli.

7. Add salt and pepper to mixture along with thyme powder.

8. Transfer the mixture to mixie/blender and mix it well. Close the lid, its hot mixture.

9. Spread the cooked pasta in serving tray and add the mixture on top of it.

10. Garnish with olives and pickled vegetables.

11. Serve hot.

-Chitra

Shrimp Curry Penne Pasta

 

Ingredients

1. 1 big onion chopped

2. 1 large apple, peeled and cubed

3. 30 g of butter

4. 3 garlic cloves minced

5. 2 tsp of thai curry powder

6. 100 ml of dry marsala

7. 100 ml low sodium chicken stock

8. 2 tsp of fish sauce

9. 2 tsp of thai red curry paste

10. 300 ml canned unsweetened coconut milk

11. 500 gms of whole wheat penne pasta

12. 500 gms shrimp deveined

13. 3 tbsp chopped fresh basil

Directions

1. In a non stick pan melt butter with one tsp of olive oil ( so that butter does not burn).

2. Add onion and garlic, when they turn little pink add apples.

3. Sauté until they turn little soft about 4-5 minutes.

4. Meanwhile boil 5-6 glass of water for pasta, add 1 tsp of salt. When water starts boiling add pasta.

5. Stir in curry powder and add marsala.

6. Boil until liquid is slightly reduced and thickened.

7. Add stock, fish sauce and red curry paste.

8. Simmer until liquid is slightly reduced about 5 minutes.

9. Add coconut milk. Simmer until slightly thickened and add shrimps, cook about 3 minutes.

10. Drain the pasta and add in into the sauce pan.

11. Add salt and pepper to taste.

12. Transfer into the serving tray and garnish with fresh basil leaves.

-Chitra

All Peppery Pasta

Ingredients

1. 2 cups Spiral Pasta (preferably Rainbow Color)
2. 1 medium Onion (chopped vertically)
3. 2 cups/one can Roasted Tomato Puree/ Paste /Sauce
4. 2 cups of Red, Orange , Green and Yellow Bell Pepper chopped thinly and vertically
5. 2 cloves Garlic (chopped)
6. Salt and Pepper to taste
7. 2 tsp. Vegetable Oil / Extra Virgin Olive Oil
8. One finely chopped green Onion/Scallions
9. Coriander/Cilantro
10. Olives
11. 1 fresh Lemon Juice

Directions

1. Heat a large pot of water to boil for pasta for 10 minutes and add some Salt (only time to flavor the pasta)
2. Add Pasta and turn heat to low.
3. Heat Oil in non stick pan on Medium low heat.
4. Add Onions. When the Onions turn light brown add Garlic.
5. Add Bell Peppers.
6. Add Salt and Pepper.
7. Add Tomato Sauce and stir it well let it simmer for 3-5 mins. (Turn heat to Low and cover the pan)
8. Drain the Pasta and toss it in the serving tray.
9. Now toss the sauce over the top and lightly mix it.
10. Garnish with Jalapenos, Olives and Vinegar and fresh Lemon juice and with chopped green Onion/Scallions, Coriander/Cilantro.
11. Quickly divide into individual bowls and Serve bowlfuls of Peppery Pasta.
    

-Chitra

Soup and Chips

Stop buying preserved soups from stores, you never know what is in that soup and chips. But one thing is sure, they are good for your health and neither your childrens or not. Instead of that buy these ingredients and make homemade soup and chips which is full of protein and nutrition and budget & figure friendly too.

Ingredients

1. 2 cups of Mix Vegetables chopped ( Corn, Carrots, Peas, Spinach, Beans)

2. 1 celery stick chopped thinly

3. 1 small can of tomato puree and 1 cup of diced tomatoes

4. ½ chopped Onions

5. ½ tsp of Ginger

6. 1 teaspoon of Garlic

7. 1 cup of Pasta

8. 3 cups of Vegetable Stock or Water

9. Salt and pepper to taste

10. 1 tsp of Olive Oil / Canola Oil

11. 10 Wonton Wrappers

12. Lemon

13. ½ teaspoon red chili powder

Isn't this amazing, you will love it... keep going. Cook it on sunday for your busy week ahead and home made lunch is ready and guess what you don't have to go out for To Go sandwiches or oily fast foods...

Directions

1. Boil 2 cups of water for pasta.

2. In a non stick pan add Onions, Ginger and Garlic.

3. When Onions turn little pink brown add Mix Vegetables and Celery.

4. When they turn little brown add Tomatoes and Tomatoes Puree.

5. When the tomatoes start leaving little oil in pan add Salt and Pepper

6. After that add Vegetable Stock and let it cook for 15-20 minutes.

7. Now take out the pasta from boiling water and add to the soup.

8. Cut Wrappers in triangles and bake them in oven at 300 degrees.

9. When they are turned golden brown take them out of oven and add little lemon and sprinkle salt and red chili powder.

10. Serve the Soup with Chips, garnish with coriander / Cilantro / dhaniya leaves

-Chitra

Colorful Veggie Spirals Pasta

This recipe is specially for all non pasta lovers. It's so tasty that you will not only start loving Pasta you will be cooking again and again and share with all you friends who are Pasta Lovers. It’s hearty and comforting Italian favorites, it's ready in a fraction of the time and with much less effort. So are you ready to make a tangy and refreshing Pasta with Indian twist.

Ingredients

For Sauce
1. 3 cups Spiral Pasta (preferably Rainbow Color)
2. 1 nos. medium Onions (chopped)
3. 2 cups/one can Roasted Tomato Puree/ Paste /Sauce
4. Half Red and Yellow Bell Pepper chopped thinly vertically
5. 2 cloves Garlic (chopped)
6. 2 no. Green Chilies chopped (Number can vary according to taste)
7. Salt to taste
8. ½ tsp. Red Chili Powder
9. 2 tsp. Vegetable Oil / Extra Virgin Olive Oil
10. ¼ cup Water


For Garnishing
1. One finely chopped Green Chili
2. One finely chopped green Onion/Scallions
3. Coriander/Cilantro
4. One finely chopped Tomato
5. One Lemon Zest

For Dressing
1. 3 tsp. Vinegar in which Jalapenos are dipped
2. 1 fresh Lemon Juice


Directions

1. Heat a large pot of water to boil for pasta for 10 minutes and add some Salt (only time to flavor the pasta).
2. Add Pasta and turn heat to low.
3. Heat Oil in non stick pan on Medium low heat.
4. Add Garlic and Onions.
5. When the Garlic & Onions turn light brown season salt and red chili powder.
6. Add Bell Peppers.
7. Add roasted Tomato Sauce and stir it well let it simmer for 3 mins.
8. Add Water and stir and bring it to a bubble. (Turn heat to Low and cover the pan)
9. Drain the Pasta and toss it in the sauce. Stir it well into the sauce so that pasta gets the entire flavor.
10. Add Pasta in serving bowl and toss with Jalapenos Vinegar and fresh Lemon juice.
11. Garnish with chopped green Chili, green Onion/Scallions, Coriander/Cilantro, chopped tomato and Lemon Zest
12. Quickly divide into individual bowls and Serve bowlfuls of Veggie Spirals Pasta with extra Vinegar on top.

- Chitra