What’s in your fridge? Do you have some vegetables that are past their prime? Breathe new life into them! Do you have leftovers from takeout or a previous dinner? Bonus! They’re already seasoned for you. Do you have a little of this and a little of that, but not quite enough of each to make a full dish? You might be surprised at the masterpiece you can create when you allow yourself to play in the kitchen.

The recipe below is just one way to create a delicious dinner with what you have on hand. But don’t let this recipe limit you. Cook with intuition. Make substitutions and season according to your own personal preferences.

Sauteed Veggie Pasta

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped

1 pint baby portabello mushrooms, roughly chopped

1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

1/2 zucchini, chopped in small pieces

1 bunch asparagus, roughly chopped

1 teaspoon mushroom seasoning

Freshly ground salt and pepper, to taste

Fresh basil, optional

1 pound pasta of your choice

Directions:

Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the chopped garlic and sprinkle with salt. Saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.  Add the mushrooms. Saute until they begin to break down, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Add the remaining vegetables to the pan and mix with a wooden spoon. Then add a few tablespoons of water. Cover and let cook for about 15 minutes. Season with mushroom seasoning, salt, and pepper and mix to incorporate.

When the water comes to a boil, cook the pasta according to your preference. Strain the pasta, reserving two ladles of the starchy water. Add this water to the vegetables slowly, only adding what is needed to create a looser sauce. Taste and season as needed.

Spoon the sauce over the pasta and top with fresh basil (optional). 

Journey Into Spring!

Join us for Liver Qi Enhancement from March 19-26, 2023. Through Qigong practice and food choices that benefit the Liver, you’ll deeply connect to your own creative potential and journey into the energetic frequency of Spring.

Click here to read Minimalist Cooking for more tips on how to cook a delicious and healthy meal with what you have available at home.