Brown Rice Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes and Parmesan

This is one of my quick "go to" meals that I love to prepare when I need something substantial with not a lot of time.  You don't have to use brown rice pasta - it could be any kind.  I love brown rice pasta because it has a fairly good consistency provided you cook it right.  It must be al dente - you cannot cook it til it's soft or it will fall apart.  I make this recipe vegetarian but you could easily add some meat to it. 

This recipe is for 1 box of brown rice pasta (probably around 3 adults).  Double the sauce if you want it more saucy or if you are making more pasta.  I really don't measure for my recipes - I'm a "hand measure" or eyeball it girl. 


1.  Start your water boiling for your pasta and make sure it's nice and salty!  It should be as salty as salt water from the ocean.  It will flavor your pasta nicely.

2.  Slice an onion, bell pepper and mushrooms.  Throw those in a saute pan with some coconut oil and garlic and saute for about 3 minutes.

 

3.  Add a bunch of fresh grape (or cherry) tomatoes to your saute pan, cover with a lid and let them begin to "sweat".

4.  After 3-4 minutes, the tomatoes will be ready to "pop".  Take a flat spatula and smash them gently til they burst open.  Be careful, they can splatter you. 

 

 

5.  Add 1 can of tomatoe sauce to this mixture along with oregano, basil and salt (not too much cause your pasta will be slightly salty). Let it simmer for 5-10 minutes.  (Depending on how much time you  have.)  I had some extra sauce in my fridge that I was using up so it's a little more full in this picture...

 

 

6.  Once your pasta is done cooking, drain it, rinse it and put it back in the pan that it cooked in. 

7.  When your sauce is done, add a little honey to cut the acidity of the tomatoe sauce and pour the sauce over the pasta.  You don't want to cook the honey or it will burn so put it in right at the end. (TIP:  if your children will not like all the veggies in this sauce, blend it all together before pouring it over the pasta - it will make a thicker, hearty sauce and they won't be picking out veggies.) 

8.  Sprinkle on a generous amount of parmesan cheese and toss the whole thing together until well coated.  Serve immediately.

 

 

Enjoy!

 

XOXO

Joy