one pot wonder - tomato basil pasta.

long last, i finally cooked a meal for my husband!  it seems like it has been years since i've done so.  travel... time... energy... other chores... jimmy johns is just so easy & healthy & cheap...  you know all of the excuses.  but it really is nice to plan a meal, prepare it, & sit down to enjoy it as a family.  {tank sat next to us while we enjoyed our meal, so it totally counts as a "family".}

this meal is ridiculously easy, quite delicious, & pretty darn healthy.  after a little bit of chopping, you just stir.  & stirring is my favorite.  so you know i loved it.  & blakey went back for seconds, so #win all around!

one pot wonder - tomato basil pasta

found on: pinterest

original recipe: apron strings

2 T evoo

4 cloves minced garlic

2 sweet yellow onions, thinly sliced

2 hungarian peppers, small diced

30 oz can of diced tomatoes with its liquid

a big handful of basil leaves, thinly sliced

2 tsp dried oregano

3/4 tsp red pepper flakes

12 oz whole wheat linguine pasta {uncooked}

32 oz veggie broth

salt & pepper

for garnish: shredded parmesan cheese

optional 2nd pot:

1 T evoo

2 cloves minced garlic

a good amount of kale

salt & pepper

1.  in your gigantic dutch oven, heat oil & garlic over medium high heat until the garlic starts to sizzle & it smells lovely.  add the onions & peppers.  sauté for a few minutes to just get the raw taste out.

2.  add tomatoes +liquid, basil, oregano, & pepper flakes.  stir stir stir.  toss in the uncooked pasta & top with veggie broth.  

3.  cover & bring everything to a boil over low heat.  as soon as it starts to boil, UNCOVER, reduce heat to low, & simmer until pasta is al dente.  {this will depend on your pasta.  it took about 9 minutes for mine.}  all the while, stir to make sure all of the flavors are falling in love & nothing sticks to the bottom.  

{this is a key change from the original recipe.  she says to cook with the pot covered until almost all of the liquid has evaporated.  in my experience, it is really hard to reduce liquid with a covered pot...  that whole evaporation thing.  so i think your pasta would be really mushy if you waited that long.  go uncovered.  trust me.} 

4.  i really wanted some greens with our pasta.  {how do you make any meal healthy??  add greens, of course!}  so i broke the one pot wonder.  you don't have to.  but if you want to, this is what i did - while the pasta is cooking, heat oil & garlic & a little bit of water over medium heat in another smaller pot.  add kale, cover, & cook/steam the kale until it turns bright green & softens a bit, which only takes a couple of minutes.

5.  once your pasta is done & the liquid has reduced a little bit, taste your creation!  it probably needs a little more salt.  but now it is delicious!  layer the pasta & sauce over some kale & top with a bit of parmesan cheese.  one/two pot wonder success!