Healthy Bite : 3 - Veggie Penne

My last night dinner was Veggie Penne. Ah Damn! It was yum and healthy that my husband and I couldn’t resist taking it twice. My husband wanted something lite to eat at dinner and I wanted healthy. So why not Penne?? Lots of mixed veggies in it; would be just perfect!

Below is my Whole Wheat Penne preference, bought this from Costco. For my fellow friends in India try picking up only whole wheat Penne.

Bring a large pot of water to boil and add salt to taste. Cook pasta in the boiling water for some time but keep the heat medium. After 10 mins or so you can check the Penne for its softness. Once it’s cooked drain the water from the pot.

While the pasta is being cooked you are required to cut the green veggies. Below are few veggies that I preferred. You can change as per your likes. Bell Pepper, Eggplant (Brinjal), cabbage, Spring Onions, green chillies, ginger is what I have used. Variations can be Spinach, Carrots, Green Beans, Cauliflower, cucumbers, peas, broccoli and every best green that you like. J Don’t forget to have a squashed Tomato & Basil Leaves for this dish.

Stir these veggies in a spoon of olive oil & salt to taste (Strictly NO to turmeric, red chili powder & every other Indian spice), after the veggies are half cooked add squashed tomato. Mix the veggies thoroughly and sauté for other 2 mins. Preheat the oven to 425 Degree F. We are aiming for healthy greens with no spices.

Prepare the baking pan by covering it with silver foil and oil the base so that penne doesn’t stick to the bottom and burn. Add pasta, half cooked veggies, basil leaves to baking pan and mix them altogether. Bake until the veggies & penne turn little brown, for 20 to 25 Mins. Serve hot J with a glass of red wine and enjoy!

Pasta without cheese? Yes! If at all I grated cheese on the top I guess I would spoil the whole fun of having greens and healthy dinner. So avoid cheese and other fatty foods for this Pasta. Friends in India if oven is the issue; have the half cooked veggies mixed with penne and cover the skillet at the low heat. Let the steam show its magic. Keep stirring so that the bottom isn’t burnt and after 10 mins serve it hot. It should be as good as baked J