Vegetable-y Pasta
Last week I received a generous gift from one of my coworkers. It was a huge bunch of hydroponically grown basil!
At first I was going to do something like a pesto that would use up most of it all at once. But then I decided to spread it out over several recipes so that I could keep enjoying it for a longer time.
On the first night I made a quick pasta dish for dinner. It did have bacon (yes, I know - not healthy) but I did add a lot of vegetables. Usually when I ask my other half what he thinks of dinner, I get the standard “good” or “very good”. On this night the response was “very vegetable-y”. I think he meant it as a good thing. Here’s what I used…
INGREDIENTS
1 box whole wheat pasta
3 strips bacon, chopped
1 potato, diced
1 Japanese eggplant, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1 can Italian style stewed tomatoes
6 to 8 basil leaves, chopped
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup pasta water
Boil your pasta in salted water as usual. Fry up the bacon, drain any excess fat. Add the potato to the pan first, then eggplant, followed by the garlic and green bell pepper. I then add the wine letting it reduce for a bit, and finally the can of tomatoes and basil.
If it needs more liquid I add some of the pasta water. Give it a taste, it may need some salt depending on your bacon and canned tomatoes. If you like it spicy, don’t forget your red pepper flakes!
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10 comments
I recently had to buy new basil plants…winter killed my other plants
that pasta looks delicious!
Thanks kat! I haven’t grown anything in a couple years. Gardening was going well for a while then one year all these bugs started to come and eat up my leaves. I didn’t want to hassle with insecticides so I just stopped after that season.
That’s a gorgeous bunch of basil! Your pasta dish looks and sounds so good, too!
You know, I’ve been wondering about growing things hydroponically but figure that it would only attract mosquitos as soon as the weather warms up. I just think it’s so cool that you don’t need any dirt!
This looks like just the thing for a summer meal…or for those wanting to add a bit more veggies to their diet. And wholewheat pasta! I actually like it over the regular type.
Looks delicious! I don’t love wheat pasta, but should probably start eating it again. I was on the south beach diet a while back…and all that wheat pasta just made me sick…because I made a recipe that I had to continually eat…I wish I could have great recipes for just one serving! Sometimes, I just want to have it to bring to lunch!
Hi Elle,
It was gorgeous, and smelled nice too. My office smelled like fresh basil all day!
Hi rowena,
That’s exactly what I was thinking - it very much reminded me of a summer type meal.
Hi jenny,
Sometimes I get really tired of leftovers too. So usually I try to make recipes that serve two for dinner plus maybe a little extra for lunch the next day. But yeah, I couldn’t eat pasta everyday either…I need my rice!
Wow!! that’s a beautiful basil plant! We’ve thought about trying to grow something hydroponically and are now inspired!
We’ve rooted lemongrass in a vase, but it never produced new bulbs.
Hi White On Rice Couple,
That would be a great addition to your already wonderful garden!