Time Poor Pasta

Cooking a healthy, nutritious and tasty meal can easily be done in under 30 minutes and this includes all the preparation!

Tonight on the Tarian Pantry's menu was a roasted tomato, onion, spinach, kale and olive kamut pasta. Sometimes its the simple meals that taste the best and this pasta was no exception.

Ingredients

Kamut Pasta (Penne or Spiral), 1 packet

4L water

1 tbsp olive oil

1 garlic, crushed

1/2 tsp chilli flakes

1 onion, sliced

1/2 bunch kale & spinach, chopped

20 olives, pitted

Cherry tomatoes, 1 punnet roasted

Method

Cook the pasta in boiling water according to packet instructions.

In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil and fry the garlic and onion for 2 minutes until fragrant. Add the kale, spinach, olives and tomatoes and mix throughly.

Once the pasta is al dente, drain the pasta and return to the saucepan; stir through the tomato mixture and serve.

www.tarianpantry.com.au

Food Ideas - Cauliflower

There are more uses for cauliflower than just cooking it with cheese (vegan cheese of course)! Cauliflower really is such a versatile vegetable and plays a staring role come the cooler months.

My favourite meal involving cauliflower is making a puree and using it as a pasta sauce, the perfect accompaniment to spaghetti. This rich creamy sauce mixed with chilli and spinach will have even the fussiest of vegetable eaters asking for more!

www.tarianpantry.com.au

Winter Salads

I know its cooler outside and our tastes buds are craving more warming foods such as potatoes, bread and soups however this salad is ideal for those evenings when you are craving something fulfilling and are time poor.

Ingredients

Half red cabbage, chopped (or cos lettuce, as used in image)

1 red onion, sliced

1 carrot, grated

200g chickpeas

2 tbsp tahini, hulled

1 tbsp lemon juice

3 tbsp olive oil

Salt and Pepper

Method

In a bowl, mix the cabbage, onion, carrot and chickpeas. Set aside. In a container, mix the tahini, lemon juice, olive oil and seasoning and mix until well combined. Dress the salad with the dressing (best mixed with your hands) and top with sprouts and dukka. Serve as a meal on its own or a side to a vegan sausage roll.

www.tarianpantry.com.au

Vegan Sausage Rolls

This meal was prepared in under 10 minutes and on the table within 30. Ok so I cheated a little and used pre made puff pastry but every good cooks needs to cut corners every now and then!

Ingredients (makes 1 sausage roll)

2 vegan sausages (Vegi-Deli), cut in half

1 sheet vegan puff pastry (Borgs)

Method

Defrost the puff pastry sheet. Place the sausage halves 2 x 2 horizontally on the pastry sheet a quarter way in. Fold the edge of the puff pastry over to cover the sausages and then roll to form a 'sausage roll'. Cut 2mm off the edge of the pastry and squeeze together the edges. Sear the top of the sausage roll with a knife and place on a non stick baking tray.

Place in a pre heated moderate oven (190 degrees) for 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Top with a basic tomato sauce and serve with your favourite salad! Dinner is served.

www.tarianpantry.com.au

Essentials for the fridge

At times we can become a little lazy in the kitchen but we must limit these moments as this can result in poor eating. Having a few pre prepared food items in your fridge will help you create tasty and nutritious meal in minutes not hours.

Roasted tomatoes

Add to pasta, tofu, green beans and lentils giving your dish a lovely sweetness and caramelised flavour.

Tomato sauce

Use as a sauce for your pasta or gnocchi, a base for your pizza or even a tomato concentrate in an indian curry.

Grated carrot & beetroot

Add to sandwiches, burgers, muffins, salads and the list goes on.

After a weekend market shop, I spend half an hour on a Sunday afternoon roasting the tomatoes, cooking the tomato sauce and grating a few carrots & beetroots. This half an hour saves me hours in the week and ensures good healthy eating for the working week ahead.

www.tarianpantry.com.au