Ingredients
-
1/2 Lb. Penne PastaMake it al-dente
-
2 Red PepperThinly Sliced
-
2 Tablespoons Olive OilExtra Virgin is recommended
-
4 Tablespoons Basil - FreshChopped
-
For a better dish presentation
-
1 Red Pepper
-
1/2 Yellow Pepper
-
1/2 Green Bell Pepper
-
2 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese
Steps for Vegan Penne with Red Peppers
|
1
Done
10 Minutes
|
Making Al-Dente Penne PastaPut the 1/2 lb. Penne pasta into the boiling water and mix, mix, mix! Depending on what Penne pasta you bought, cook as directed on package. Continue stirring continuously. Fish out a single penne pasta and take a bite. If it's al-dente, then take out the pasta... if no, let the pot on the heater and try again in 30 seconds. I used Barilla Penne for this recipe. |
|
2
Done
3 Minutes
|
Preparing the Red Peppers and adding BasilIn a pan, saute the chopped Red Peppers in 4 tbsp. of Olive Oil until are tender, but still a little crisp. Place them in a serving dish and toss in the drained Penne Pasta. Add the fresh chopped Basil and you did it. Bon appétit! For a better-looking dish, add also Yellow and Green peppers+parmesan. Bon appétit |
Additional Info for Vegan Penne with Red Peppers
Penne Pasta with Red Peppers & Basil is a simple recipe with a great flavor, which can be made with ease. This dish has few ingredients and can be made with more than red peppers, like adding Green and Yellow peppers for a more colorful design. As if that wasn’t good enough, the Penne Pasta with Red Peppers is for those of you who want to lose some weight.
Content on this page…
About the Vegan Penne Pasta with Red Peppers & Basil Recipe
All Italian pasta must be cooked al-dente. If you do not know how to make al-dente pasta, see here. If you do that, much of the recipe is as it is done already. Regarding the ingredients, to prepare this dish is cheaper than you think.
You need 1/2 Lb. of Penne Pasta, thinly sliced Red Peppers, 2 Tbs. of Olive Oil or Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 4 Tbsp. of chopped fresh basil. If you have guests, be a good host and design the dish with more than red peppers, adding green and yellow ones as well. If you like your pasta with meat in it, add some bacon or tuna.
Why Penne Pasta and not Linguini or Spaghetti?
As I said in my other Italian recipes, the taste between Penne, Spaghetti, Linguini, and Fettuccine is different and can modify the taste of the dish. I, like other true cooks, experiment on different versions of recipes and make the perfect balance between ingredients.
I started with Fettuccine in this recipe, but the taste wasn’t as good as it is with Penne. I also wanted a better design, added the green and yellow pepper, and voila, a good-looking dish of Penne Pasta and a super taste. Anyway, you can use what you already have, but I recommend using penne pasta.
Great for weight-loss diets
If you are on a weight-loss diet, the penne with red peppers and basil recipe can be added to your meal plan, preferably on day 3 out of 7. It is low in calories, fat, saturated fat, and sodium. If you look at the nutrition info I have posted, you’ll notice the protein intake is great, meaning that you’ll feel full longer and will skip snacks that day. Why on day 3 and not the first one? The first two days are usually completed with soups or stews (with or without meat) and salads.
As per Australian Guidelines, there are also some tricks to include in your weight-loss program, such as:
- To achieve and maintain a healthy weight or getting slimmer, be physically active and choose amounts of nutritious food and drinks to meet your energy needs.
- Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods every day and drink plenty of water. Eat vegetables (including different types and colours), legumes/beans, fruits, grain foods (mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties — including pasta!), lean meats (poultry, fish), milk, yogurt, cheese (mostly reduced fat)
- Limit intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt, added sugars and alcohol. In my cookbook, you’ll see nutrition info in every recipe.
- Care for your food; prepare and store it safely.
Is vegan penne pasta with red peppers healthy for dinner?
Pasta is low in fat and high in carbohydrates. Whole-wheat or whole-grain pasta (including penne) includes the nutritious layers of the grain that add heart-healthy fiber.
Uncooked pasta has about 100 calories per ounce; this equals about ½ cup when cooked. But, it isn’t recommended to eat only pasta, and not because the pasta will hurt you, but it is recommended to eat varied meals with different types of main ingredients. Moreover, the red peppers and basil are making this dish healthier and tasty!
