Pastaaa - Indian Ishtyle !!

Dear Foodies,

Nandita's WBB event - Twist in the plate

The pasta aisle in the grocery store always wins the game. I start out on my monthly shopping with a firm resolution that I wouldn't buy any pasta on this trip, but you will always see a new bag of it in my kitchen closets !! During my last visit, Orzo, the rice grain shaped pasta was the winner :-) My most favorite of them all is the tri-color Rotini, though they might be similar in taste to any other kind of pasta, the colored spirals are a treat to the eyes. Toss in some colored peppers and tomatoes and you have a masterpiece !!

This pasta recipe is the result of some gathered inspiration from a friends' recipe and my cravings for a spicy n quick breakfast on the weekends. Its very simple and a regular in my apartment. Since its a dish with no particular recipe that I stick too, I add anything that comes within my arms reach in the kitchen !!


Ingredients:

• 1/2 pack - Rotini, cooked as per instructions

• 2 nos - Tomatoes, chopped

• 1 nos - Onion, chopped

• 1/2 nos - Capsicum, chopped
  

• 1/2 cup - Lima beans (I used canned ones)
  

• 1 1/2 tsp - red pepper seeds/Chilli powder

• 2 Tbsp - Maggi Hot n Sweet sauce /Tomato ketchup

• 3 tsp - Lime juice

• Salt to taste

• Oil for sautéing (I used olive oil, the newbie in my kitchen :-) )
  

Procedure:

1. Cook the pasta as per the instructions, add a few drops of oil to the boiling water to avoid sticky pasta.
2. In a skillet heat some oil. Once hot, sprinkle some red pepper seeds and then the chopped onions and saute till translucent.
   
3. Next comes the capsicum, once they are tender add the tomatoes and cook covered till the tomatoes cook. If using chilli powder, add it now.
4. Mash the tomatoes a bit and add in the lima beans, salt and ketchup and cook covered for a few more minutes till it all comes together. Add a little water if required.
5. Now toss in the pasta and stir to coat it well with the vegetables. Add more salt if required. cover and cook for a couple of minutes till the flavors blend into with the pasta.
6. Turn off the heat and add the lime juice for a tangy twist and to complete the desi touch.
   

Notes:

• I guess you could add any veggie of your choice to this dish. eg: carrots, peas, potatoes, french cut beans and also tofu or crumbled paneer if you have some.
  
• You can also add some roasted peanuts for an extra crunch :-)
• I add the Maggi hot n sweet ketchup for it to be extra hot, you can skip that if you are not huge spicy food fan. You could use plain ketchup while cooking instead and reserve the Maggi sauce for the bowl just before serving.
• If you don't have the Maggi ketchup you could use a dash of green chilli sauce or tobasco sauce.

Now its over the Nandita's WBB event.