Written by All Seasons - Healthy Food - Vegetables and Pasta
Eating for a better life
This perfect vegetables and pasta dish is my all time favourite. It is comforting in the cold of winter and offers good health in the warmer seasons.
Ingredients
- Pasta of your choice
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Leeks
- Bok Choy
- Celery
- Cabbage
- Spinach
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Mushrooms – any kind
- Shelled pecan halves
- Turnips
- Red and Green Peppers
- Parsley
- Oregano
- Basil
- Thyme
- Sprig or two of rosemary
- Pepper
- Fresh Coriander
- Ginger and garlic
- Minced Beef or Chicken
- Olive oil
Add what you will
The ingredients may seem overwhelming, I say, customise the recipe as you see fit. It would be boring to eat this dish frequently like I do; leave out some ingredients for another day. Cauliflower and broccoli can be prepared as separate dish with sauce for another day. Make this meal versatile and serve with rice, pasta, couscous, mielie pap. I personal preference is mielie pap since I am South African. There is also a dry mielie pap called putu which is popular in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Dry mielie pap goes well with savoury mince or chicken and with all vegetables.
Keep it clean
What? No mention of chilli-powders, curries and marsala. I keep these evil potions out of my dishes. Why? I am not sure about other countries, but in South Africa, you can sell curry-powders and marsala without the producer declaring the contents. This is the case with merchants who buy in bulk and repackage. Emulsifiers and bulking agents are added, which changes the product. These potions are deadly to most humans and should be avoided at all costs.
Pure, fresh chili is good for you and is widely used in meals and salads. Add bit of chili in your soups and stews to give them a kick, if that is your preference. Dried red chili should always sourced cautiously and from a reputable supplier. Red chili can be finely ground when used in soups and stews.
Puttng it together
Fry onions in olive oil, add the mushrooms and meat. In our recipe, ground beef.
Add the hard veggies first – carrots, turnips, celery stalks.
Add the softer vegetables after and blend with the herbs.
Add some water to steam up the veggies.
The pasta can be prepared separately to ensure that it is soft.
Mix the the pasta with the rest of the dish.
