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Saturday, July 2, 2011

Penne Pasta with Roasted tomato sauce and vegetables, chicken nuggets

As the kids grow up , fussiness and tantrums are often on the rise. Variety is not an option anymore but a compulsion. Same similar food on consecutive days is a big no no...the whine is almost instantaneous. Family meals , especially dinners are often dictated by their likes and dislikes, at least to ensure the given meal is finished without much ado. I am sure most Moms would agree.  
In my home, the current rage being pasta, I take the opportunity to pack in as much of veggies  into a bowl full of pasta as I can.....
 

Ingredients :
1.Penne Pasta cooked 'al dente' as per pkt instructions - 250 gm
2.Blanched vegetables for stir fry - carrot, beans, baby corn, brocolli etc
3.Tomatoes cut into quarters - 8-10 medium sized
4.Chicken breast cut into bite sized pieces - 250 gm, marinated in ginger-garlic paste-lemon juice-White 5.Sesame seeds-3 tbsp
6.Pepper corns - crushed
7.fennel seed paste
8.Rock Salt
9. Pepper
10.Chilli flakes 
11.Basil - a handful
12.Garlic - finely chopped - 8-10 cloves
13. Dried Oregano
14. Italian seasoning
15. Grated cheddar cheese - 1 cup
16.Salt to taste
17. Butter/Olive Oil

Procedure :
Roast Tomato Sauce (inspired by Kalyn's recipe of slow roast tomato)
 
1. In a mortar pestle roughly grind 2 tbsp of fennel seeds with a few drops of water
2. Brush the baking tray with oil and preheat the oven (OTG) to 250 deg C
3. Smear the quartered tomatoes with the fennel paste, pepper powder, rock salt, dried oregano and drizzle EVOO.
4.Place on the baking tray cut side down.
5.Set the OTG in grill mode for about 25 minutes at 250 deg C. Keep and eye to ensure the tomatoes dont get charred.Continue till the skin of the tomatoes are wrinkled.
While the tomatoes were being grilled, I continued with the stir fried vegetables & chicken
6.In a pan/wok, take a tsp of EVOO. Add chopped garlic and basil leaves. lightly fry.
7. Add the roasted tomatoes and mash them.
8. Add water drained after boiling pasta mixed with a spoon of cornflour. Add 1/2 cup of grated cheese. Mix well

Stir fried Vegetables : 
1. Blanch the vegetables after cutting them into small equal sized pieces.
2. Dry roast white sesame seeds in the wok. Remove
3. Heat EVOO/Butter. Add crushed pepper corns, a dash of sugar.
4. Add the blanched vegetables and toss them around in high heat.
5. Add required salt, dried oregano and chili flakes
6. Sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds



Chicken nuggets
1. I used some previously marinated (ginger-garlic paste, salt, pepper, lemon juice) chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces.
2. Heat oil in a wok. And throw a bay leaf or two.
3. Pour the chicken pieces. Brown them on medium-high heat.

In a large bowl assemble the cooked (al-dente) penne pasta, stir fried-white sesame garnished vegetables and chicken nuggets along with the roast tomato sauce. Toss them around to mix well. Garnish with grated cheese.

12 comments:

Creativecook said...

Sharmista,

Thanks for stopping by, I love the new look and beautiful vivid pictures.

Rinku

Urmi said...

Wonderful and mouth watering dish. I love pasta and I liked the way you have prepared. Looks yummy and flavourful.

Unknown said...

Nice way to get in veggies and protein in your diet.

Ushnish Ghosh said...

Dear Sharmistha
Today I am making Penne in Bolognese sauce. Suddenly every body ( no longer kids) wants pasta more often.
I like your recipe...you have used Fennel , I think it will give a good aroma, must try it out soon.
Have great weekend
UGda

Sharmistha Guha said...

@Rinku - Thanks....I'd got bored of the previous (or rather the ONLY) look. hence the change....

Sharmistha Guha said...

@Babli-Thanks! :)

@DV- Absolutely...when you cant beat them, join them!!

@UG-da-Arre wah!! Recipe of Bolognese sauce post korben kintu ...ki diye chicken ?
I am not a big fan of pasta but my daughter is. Hence....
yes, when i'd read abt the fennel in the roast tomatoes i'd found it an unusual spice for roasting. Gives the taste a different dimension!

Ushnish Ghosh said...

I used mutton keema, 50% ground to paste after boiling and rest as it is with the usual tomato, basil et al.
It should taste good. I got a chunk of real Parmigiano Reggiano suddenly.
The horse's job ( making the sauce) is over, now I will do the donkey job of boiling the pasta.
bhalo theko

Sharmistha Guha said...

@UG-da-great!! Hope you had a great dinner!!
details diye post korben.....

Dreams of cakes said...

What a delicious dish!! Thanks for sharing!!

Sharmistha Guha said...

@Eftychia-Thanks for stopping by...

amlamonte said...

mmm looks very warm and delicious and summery!

Sharmistha Guha said...

@A.Maren-Thanks & also thanks for stopping by....