Monday, February 28, 2011

Macaroni with Mixed Herbs and Roasted Vegetables in White Sauce and a Happy Note!!

Pastas are generally our weekend dinners as I find them very easy and quick to make and can finish up the complete process of cooking in less than thirty minutes.My husband prefers a very simple pasta tossed with a good amount of EVOO,garlic and red chili flakes,which I find it a bit dry for me to eat.After lots of trials and additions I have settled upon this recipe which suited taste buds of both of us.There were days I used to buy the ready made pasta sauces and store them up in my kitchen,but after I started blogging I never bothered to buy as I find the fresh home made ones taste better than the store bought ones and are very economical too.As I mentioned earlier among all the pastas we love Basil pesto pasta and is always our first preference provided the fresh basil is available at home,if not I make pasta either with spinach,coriander or mint pesto.If there are no greens available in my refrigerator this is the second version of pasta which we prefer at home.It is very simple to make,no grinding process is required and if you are quick in cooking and good in multi tasking the whole process can be finished in 25-30 mins.I start everything simultaneously like boiling the pasta,slicing the vegetables,boiling and roasting the vegetables necessary in the order and making the sauce as well.Read my notes to get some tips on converting a high calorie pasta to a very healthy and low cal version of pasta.I am sure many of you might have implemented these tips but still I want to share for people who are not aware of them.

Ingredients:

2 cups macaroni or any other pasta
1/2 cup chopped broccoli
1/4 cup sweet corn kernels
1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup thinly sliced zucchini
1 onion,thinly sliced
6-8 pods of garlic,finely chopped
1 tsp red chili flakes
1 tsp mixed herbs
1/2 tsp black pepper,freshly ground
2 tbsp low fat eggless mayonnaise(secret ingredient for a low calorie version but optional)
2-3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil(EVOO)
salt to taste

for white sauce:
3 tsp extra virgin olive oil or butter
3 tsp all purpose flour or wheat flour
1 cup milk
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp mixed herbs
1/4 tsp black pepper,freshly ground
a pinch of nutmeg
salt to taste

Method:
  • Bring water to a boil with salt and add a tsp of olive oil in a big pot add macaroni or any pasta and cook for 8-10 mins or follow the instructions on your package.Drain them and keep it aside and reserve the water for later usage.
  • Mean while make the white sauce.Heat EVOO or butter in another pan and add all purpose flour or wheat flour and fry well and add milk to it and quickly whisk until you get a uniform smooth mixture,add more milk or reserved pasta water to get the required consistency.Add grated cheese,required salt,mixed herbs,pepper powder and a pinch of nutmeg to it and give a boil.keep it aside.
  • Steam broccoli florets until tender,still crunchy.Boil corn kernels until done.
  • Heat a wide bottomed thick pan and heat extra virgin olive oil and add garlic and fry until light golden in color.
  • Add sliced onions and fry until transparent.Add sliced mushrooms and zucchini and fry until done.Mushrooms might leave water,cook until the water evaporates.
  • Add blanched broccoli and cooked corn kernels to it and fry for few more mins.Do not let the onions turn golden in color.
  • Add red chili flakes,mixed herbs and enough salt and give a good stir.
  • Add the prepared white sauce and mayonnaise and mix well,check for salt and add more if required.Add cooked pasta and mix well and cook for 3-4mins.
Garnish with grated parmesan and serve it warm with salad and bread.

Note:
  • I make my pastas,low calorie and healthy.I replace all purpose flour with wheat flour and butter with EVOO while making white sauce,this itself makes the pasta very healthy as there is no other ingredient which makes it loaded with calories.
  • You can use whole wheat or whole meal pastas which are available in market instead of flour ones to make it more healthy.I generally use flour one or whole wheat ones,I am not happy with the whole meal one,So I do not recommend to use the whole meal one.
  • One more thing,I avoid adding cheese to the pastas unless it is for a party.I add 2 tbsp of low fat eggless mayonnaise instead of cheese to get the richness in pasta.The addition of mayonnaise even adds special taste to pasta,try it out you wont believe that there is no cheese in pasta.
  • Adjust the chili flakes,pepper and herbs according to your taste buds.
  • Replace macaroni with any kind of pasta like fusili,farfelle,shell pasta,penne,spaghetti etc etc.
  • You can even add a pinch of cinnamon to the white sauce while making it.
  • You can even add colored bell peppers,yellow zucchini or roasted eggplant to the pasta.
  • If you are making it for a party,after you prepare the pasta transfer to a oven proof dish and cover it liberally with Parmesan cheese and dot with butter in between and bake it in preheated oven at 180 degrees for 15-20 mins until cheese melts and turns slight golden in color.

and now coming to the happy note..:)

I have completed two years of blogging successfully this feb 25th and I am really thankful to all the fellow bloggers and visitors of my blog to make this happen.Your comments and messages really mean a lot to me,a special Thanks and hugs to you all.

photo courtesy:Google

50 comments:

  1. Wow,congrats on ur 2 years of successful blogging,way to go!
    And the pasta dish sounds so so yummy!

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  2. yumm yumm... want to indulge in this guilty pleasure right away. I am game for pasta anytime. loved the inviting clicks too.

    :)

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  3. Congrts Prathiba,

    On ur success!!Pasta is prefect i make a similar one..Keep rocking..

    Cheers!!

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  4. Congratulations and Happy Bday to TCHK. Pasta looks yummo!

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  5. Congrats on your successful 2 years of blogging..wish you many more years like this..keep rocking!

    And pasta dish looks very scrumptions and comforting.

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  6. Droolworthy pictures....making me hungry....Congrats on hitting milestone...wish u r blog many more yum years to come...

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  7. Congrats on completing 2 years of blogging and wishing u many more years of blogging.Hugs...

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  8. Hi Prathy

    Macaroni with herbs look so tasty and healthy. Great preparation.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  9. pasta looks lovely n congrats on 2 fine years of great recipes

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  10. congrats on ur 2 years..ur pasta looks very tempting

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  11. Congrats on ur 2nd blog anniversary Prathy,keep rocking gal..

    Macaroni makes me hungry..

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  12. Congrats n hugs dear..wish you many many more such beautiful milestones to come!
    Pasta looks delicious, loved the combo of ingredients you used..

    US Masala

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  13. Congrats on ur 2nd blog anniversary..
    Wish ur blog celebrate many more yummulicios milestones..
    Pasta looks soo creamy n yummmm

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  14. Congrats on your second blog anniversary..creamy and delicious pasta..looks inviting.

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  15. Congrats on completing 2 beautiful years...
    Pasta looks just adorable...

    http://krithiskitchen.blogspot.com

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  16. Congrats on your 2nd blog anniversary....
    Pasta looks creamy and delicious...

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  17. Congratulations on completing 2 yrs! Looking fwd to more fundoo recipes... :)

    I too make something with pasta when short on time - very versatile as well. That recipe sounds fabulous.

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  18. pasta looks so delcioous,congrats for completing two yrs

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  19. Congratulation Pratibha... Way to go...

    Delicious pasta... We like it simple and love the flavours.. Its has to be on our menu card at home once in 10 days!!

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  20. Pasta is my fav...looks super yum

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  21. congrats dear on comppleting 2 years!...wishing u many more fun blogging years!...
    The pasta looks very yum!...I like pasta with veggies....it looks too tempting!
    Smitha
    http://smithasspicyflavors.blogspot.com/

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  22. Congrats dear !!! keep rocking !!

    pasta is indeed delicious !!!

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  23. we enjoy pasta with vegetables too this looks delicious
    happy blog anniversary

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  24. Congrats on your 2nd blog anniversary....
    Pasta looks creamy and delicious...

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  25. Congrats on completing second year of blogging :) keep it going buddy.

    Lovely macaroni.. looks really delicious :)

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  26. Looks absolutely delish love love love it.. way too tempting and congrats on ur blog anniversary Prathy.. keep rocking .

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  27. congrats on completing 2 yrs and delicious pasta ......

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  28. Prathibha Congrats once again. Love the colorful & healthy pasta.

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  29. congrats on ur anniversary dear!pasta luks creamy and delicious.

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  30. Congratz on your blog anniversary. You have a gr8 space and I luv hanging out here :) The macaroni looks hearty n delicious.

    Cheers,
    Satrupa

    http://satrupa-foodforthought.blogspot.com

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  31. Very delicious way of making pasta nad congrats on your 2nd blog anniversary

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  32. Congratulations on your blog birthday! Wishing you many more years of successful blogging. Macaroni in white sauce is our family fav too. My son calls it white pasta :)

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  33. Congrats dear!!!
    Lovely macaroni :-)

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  34. Congrats on ur 2 yrs of blogging prathibha:)...Lovely Macaroni loved the chilli flakes on top yum!

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  35. Congrats on ur 2nd blog birthday.Wish u celebrate more n more ..This pasta dish looks mouthwatering. Iam not a big fan of pasta.but i want to try for my hubby. bookmarked this yummy recipe..

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  36. Congrats n hugs dear..wishing your blog celebrates many many more yummy anniversaries with awesome posts..:D
    Tasty appetite

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  37. Wow another mouthwatering pasta recipe, my todays recipe was also a pasta. But i am going to try yours soon. Thanks for sharing.

    Have a grate day ahead.

    Love
    Deepa

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  38. Pasta looks very delicious
    Congrats on your 2nd blog anniversary

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  39. I read the post yesterday but had no time to comment, finally made it today :)
    Congrats dear. The pasta looks divine, something I will crave for in a short time when I will be short of time to fix a decent dinner.

    FOODELICIOUS

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  40. Congrats on the anniversary Prathy and wishing u many more to come :).That pasta looks so yummy that it tempts me to make them rite now.But I plan to make it for breakfast tmrw...

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  41. Congrats dear on completing 2 years, wow, must feel so great. That pasta looks super scrumptious and mouth watering and rich and creamy and everything else.

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  42. Congrats and wish many more years of blogging! Pasta looks delicious!

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  43. Hi

    it looks yummy. My hubby loves white sauce pasta, and I make it with plain flour, urs seem to be a healthier version.

    I keep the quantity of sauce more ...like its sort of gravy and it does turn out a bit sticky...is that because of the quantity ??

    what is the consistency of the sauce u make?
    i think I add more milk than you have done.

    I wanna try your version soon..

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  44. Hi Lavi,
    yes using wheat flour wid olive oil is always a better n healthier option to white flour with butter..
    My sauce consistency would be similar to dosa batter,I approximately add 3/4-1 cup of sauce to pasta and I dilute the mixture a bit wid pasta water according to the consistency I need..hope this helps u..if u still have doubts feel free to contact me..
    rgds,
    prathy

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  45. hiii, love the way you explain the recipe rather so easily and make it sound so simple As stupid as it mmay sound, I CANNOT make pastas, they end up so horribly, that I eventually have to throw them :(. here is what happens - Please help:

    > My pasta turns tasteless irrespective or how much evr spices I add - it tastes sooo bland
    > They become like these noodles, which cannot be separated, they stick together and becomes very thick - basically not juicy...
    > after doing all the above u mentioned - I add (coz my son likes it cheesy) some cheese and heat it in the oven for a min - but even after that , its not creamy :(

    Please suggest....

    Thanks a tone

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Hugs,
Prathy