Pasta Fresca is a veggie-packed pasta dish that cooks in lower than quarter-hour. This straightforward dinner recipe is contemporary, mild, and filling!

Final month a couple of buddies and I headed out for dinner and drinks adopted by a comedy present that includes the one and solely Trey Kennedy. He was SO humorous! I didn’t know if a sketch comedy-style man would translate into an excellent get up comic, however he nailed it. You even have to understand when a PG-themed comic can get a whole viewers rolling with out uttering a single swear phrase.

10/10 + two thumbs up + extremely advocate!

Certainly one of my buddies and I have been discussing the present the subsequent day and she or he stated, “…it felt so good to LAUGH” and that hit me proper within the feels. It DID really feel so good to snort! When’s the final time you laughed for an hour straight? Heck, even 5 minutes? Might all of us have extra moments to snort in our lives.

As we speak I’m sharing a really feel good second within the type of a veggie-packed pasta dinner recipe that not solely delivers a contemporary taste punch, however cooks within the period of time it takes to boil a field of penne pasta.

10/10 + two thumbs up + extremely advocate the recipe for Pasta Fresca!

Copy Cat Noodles & Firm Pasta Fresca Recipe

Within the early days of Ben’s and my marriage we ate at Noodles & Firm each single week. I’d get Japanese Pan Noodles and he’d get Pasta Fresca. No deviation. Ever. Since our gluten-filled pasta-take-out days are lengthy gone, I made a decision to recreate Ben’s favourite right here at dwelling — this time, no gluten required.

Pasta Fresca is gluten free penne pasta tossed with a medley of contemporary greens together with crimson onion, child spinach, and tomatoes, tons of contemporary garlic, a shortcut balsamic sauce, and the cheese topper of your selection.

Did I point out it cooks within the time it takes to boil a field of noodles? This straightforward, vegetarian pasta recipe is as fast and straightforward, as it’s healthful and scrumptious.

Substances Wanted

• Penne pasta: I like to recommend Jovial gluten free brown rice penne. Be at liberty to make use of your selection of pasta — rotini, ziti, or rigatoni can be nice shapes to make use of.
• Pink onion: sliced crimson onion gives coloration and taste.
• Garlic: there’s 6 — sure, six! — cloves of contemporary garlic on this pasta recipe for tons of garlicky taste. Be at liberty to dial again for those who’re a medium on the garlic-loving scale.
• Tomatoes: chopped vine-ripened tomatoes or Roma tomatoes assist create a light-weight pasta sauce. Halved cherry tomatoes can be nice in the event that they’re in season.
• Child spinach: I add a whole 5oz clamshell of contemporary spinach to this dish to pump up the veggies. Give the spinach a tough chop earlier than sauting if the leaves are giant.
• Balsamic French dressing: retailer purchased balsamic French dressing — salad dressing, y’all — doubles as a straightforward, flavorful sauce for the pasta. I’ll share my favourite model beneath.
• Parmesan or Feta cheese: Noodles & Firm offers you the selection of shredded parmesan cheese or crumbled feta cheese to prime your Pasta Fresca with. I want feta, whereas Ben goes with parm. You possibly can use a plant-based cheese to make this dish vegan.

Tips on how to Add (Extra) Protein

As written, this Pasta Fresca recipe is vegetarian and will be made vegan for those who use a plant-based cheese. That stated, the brown rice pasta, spinach, and tomatoes are nice sources of plant-based protein! When you’re seeking to stretch the dish a bit extra although, listed here are some protein choices so as to add to the recipe:

1. Rooster: Earlier than sauting the crimson onions, season 1lb diced rooster breast with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper then saute in further virgin olive oil till cooked by way of. Scoop right into a bowl then put aside. Add to the pasta cooking pot in step 3.
2. Shrimp: Roast 1lb shrimp or, previous to sauting the crimson onions, cube 1lb jumbo shrimp into bite-sized items then season and saute just like the rooster breast possibility above.
3. Salmon: a roasted or Air Fried salmon filet can be divine served subsequent to a scoop of Pasta Fresca. Season merely with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
4. Italian Sausage: Earlier than sauting the crimson onions, brown 3/4lb spicy or candy Italian sausage then drain, put aside, and add into the pot on the finish.
5. Beans: I don’t sometimes love a double carb supply in a meal (pasta + beans for instance) however for those who don’t have this similar, very particular recipe ick, add a can of drained and rinsed garbanzo beans or nice northern beans to the pot with the spinach combination on the finish to warmth by way of.
6. Excessive protein pasta: Use a bean or lentil-based pasta like Banza or Tolerant, respectively, which pack a TON of protein!
7. Extra veggies! Mushrooms, asparagus, peas, and/or chopped zucchini would all make wonderful additions to this pasta dish to pump up the plant-based protein.

Alright, able to cook dinner?!

Tips on how to Make Pasta Fresca

Step 1: Prepare dinner the pasta

Begin by including a 12oz field of gluten free penne pasta, or your favourite pasta form, into a big pot of salted boiling water then cook dinner in accordance with package deal instructions for al dente. Drain then put aside. Preserve the pasta cooking pot out as we’ll use it to mix all of the substances on the finish.

Step 2: Prepare dinner the greens

When the pasta is midway performed cooking, warmth further virgin olive oil in a 12″+ giant skillet over warmth that’s a contact above medium. Add sliced crimson onion, season with salt and pepper, then saute till the onions till crisp tender, 3-4 minutes.

Subsequent add numerous minced contemporary garlic then saute till the garlic begins to show mild brown, 1-2 minutes, being very cautious to not let it burn.

To the skillet add chopped contemporary tomatoes then saute till they start to melt, 1-2 minutes. Use your spatula to loosen any brown bits from the underside of the skillet with the juices from the tomatoes.

Lastly, add child spinach, roughly chopped if the leaves are giant, then saute till the spinach begins to wilt, 1-2 minutes. I like to modify to tongs at this level to assist get all the things combined up.

You possibly can see the spinach actually cooks down!

Now, if the pasta isn’t performed cooking but, take away the skillet from the warmth so the spinach doesn’t overcook.

Step 3: Mix pasta and greens with French dressing

Add the cooked pasta again into the pasta cooking pot with the spinach combination plus Balsamic French dressing, which is able to create a light-weight, flavorful sauce for the pasta. I really like Ken’s Easy French dressing Balsamic Vinegar for the job!

Flip the warmth to low then stir all the things to mix, warmth by way of, and absolutely wilt the spinach.

Step 4: Prime with cheese

Scoop the Pasta Fresca into bowls then prime with crumbled feta or shredded parmesan cheese. I like feta as a result of it creates a light-weight and creamy sauce, however there’s one thing undeniably scrumptious a couple of easy, nutty sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

That’s all she wrote – informed you this easy pasta dish was fast and straightforward!

Tips on how to Retailer and Reheat

Ought to you could have any leftovers, scoop them into an hermetic container with a lid then retailer within the fridge. Reheat within the microwave. I don’t normally love reheated gluten free pasta, however the greens and balsamic French dressing preserve the pasta from getting too exhausting within the fridge / falling aside when reheating.

Nevertheless you serve it, I hope you like this feel-good, fast and straightforward gluten free Pasta Fresca recipe — take pleasure in!

Extra Gentle and Straightforward Pasta Recipes

Description

Pasta Fresca is a veggie-packed pasta dish that cooks in lower than quarter-hour. This straightforward dinner recipe is contemporary, mild, and filling!

Substances

• 12oz gluten free penne pasta (Jovial really helpful)
• 2 Tablespoons further virgin olive oil
• 1 small or 1/2 giant crimson onion, thinly sliced
• salt and pepper
• 6 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
• 1lb vine-ripened (2-3) or Roma tomatoes (3-4), seeded then chopped
• 5oz child spinach, roughly chopped if leaves are giant
• 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons Balsamic French dressing (NOT balsamic vinegar, see notes)
• shredded parmesan cheese or crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

1. Deliver a big pot of water to a boil then season generously with salt and add penne. Prepare dinner till al dente then drain pasta and put aside. Preserve the cooking pot out as you’ll use it once more on the finish.
2. When the pasta is midway performed cooking, warmth further virgin olive oil in a big, 12″+ skillet over warmth that’s a contact above medium. Add crimson onion, season with salt and pepper, then saute till crisp-tender, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic then saute till very aromatic and light-weight golden brown, 1-2 minutes, being very cautious to not let it burn. Add tomatoes then saute till they start to melt, 1 minute, utilizing the juices to assist scrape up any brown bits from the underside of the skillet. Add child spinach then saute till it begins to wilt, 1 minute — I like to modify over to tongs to assist combine all of the greens up. If pasta remains to be cooking at the moment, take away skillet from warmth so spinach doesn’t overcook.
3. Place the pasta cooking pot again over low warmth then add Balsamic French dressing, drained pasta, and spinach combination then stir till the dish is heated by way of and spinach is tender. Scoop into bowls then prime with parmesan or feta cheese.
4. Depart a remark and star score for those who liked the recipe!

Notes

• Use your favourite Balsamic French dressing for this recipe. I like Ken’s Merely Balsamic French dressing.
• Please learn submit copy for protein choices, cook dinner them, and when so as to add them to the recipe.

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Woman Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Photographs by Ashley McLaughlin