Hungarian Vegetable Pasta

One day I will be able to spell vegetable without spell check! Here’s a helpful hit for those of you with this problem. It doesn’t have and I in it! Anyway I am calling this Hungarian simply because it has smoked paprika in it. Not because I actually know how to cook Hungarian food. I was going for tasty and easy not authenticity. It’s probably more Italian style cooking… except in a wok with Hungarian spices.

Here’s the important part. This is another one of those super easy recipes that can easily be adjusted to fit your family’s taste. I make variations of this once or twice a week. Uli usually picks around and eat what she feels like any given day… I just keep putting it all in front of her so she has new things to try. Some days she’ll gobble up what she rejected the day before.

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You will need:

  • Pasta (I used spinach linguini)
  • Kale (or swiss chard)
  • Zucchini
  • cherry tomatoes
  • diced onions
  • smoked paprika, salt, pepper
  • olive oil
  • Lemon juice
  • parmesan cheese (leave it out or use breadcrumbs if your making a vegan version)

What to do:

  1. Start pasta (if your someone who times you cooking, you’ll be cooking it until it’s al dente. Use package instructions to do this.)
  2. Cut up your veggies. Keep the kale and onions separate.
  3. Heat up your wok to medium/low heat. (You can use any large pan. Woks are just easier to clean.)
  4. Add some olive oil and onions first
  5. Then salt and pepper
  6. Pay attention to your pasta and drain it when it’s al dente. Or still a bit firm.
  7. When your onion’s translucent add paprika. (Enough to coat your onions)
  8. Add your veggies and cook to your liking
  9. Add the greens and pasta just before it’s done
  10. Toss until the greens are wilted add a bit of your pasta water if it looks dry. (This will depend on what vegetables you use)
  11. Squeeze some lemon juice and add  parmesan cheese just before serving.

Freeform Texmex

I call this dish Mexican Fiesta and it’s rarely the same the next time I make it.

Mexican Fiesta!

Yumm!

Here are the basics.

You will need:

  • Black beans and rice (store-bought or follow my recipe)
  • Cheese (mont. jack, cheddar, ect… any normal cheese with some flavor)
  • Summer Squash (You can also use zucchini, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, ect.)
  • Tomatoes
  • Red onion (If you like/have white onions. I would recommend browning them before you throw the rest of the veggies in)
  • Garlic
  • Cumin
  • Chili Powder
  • Salt and Pepper

Notice there aren’t measurements in my recipe. I come from a long line of step skippers. Measuring is a good idea in many circumstances. Like when you want consistency or are baking… Admittedly I never measure the flour when I bake bread. Anyway, quick skillet meals don’t call for measurements in my book. It takes away the freeform joy in them. Plus, who actually has every ingredient for a recipe?

What to do:

  • Start beans and rice (wait a few minutes to cook the vegetables if you want them to be done at the same time)
  • Cut the veggies (make sure they’re about the same size if you want them to cook evenly)
Cut veggies

Pan ready veggies

uli

Make sure your helper has something to do

  • Next let your pan heat up and add a little oil ( I use olive)
  • Now toss your vegetables in the pan untill they’re cooked to your liking
  • Add seasoning and cook about another minute
  • Plate and serve with your favorite fixings (mine are avocado, sour cream, and chipotle salsa)

Easy Beans and Rice

  • Dice a few cloves of garlic
  • Heat a bit of oil in a medium-sized pot
  • Add garlic
  • Lightly brown garlic
  • Add one can beans (or about a cup of pre cooked beans)
  • Now the spices: Cumin, chili powder, salt
  • Stir so the spices heat up before you add the water
  • Add two cups water
  • Add one cup rice
  • Bring to a boil
  • simmer for 20-30 minutes

Here’s a link to some good tips on pre soaking and cooking your own beans (it’s not as hard as it sounds) http://homecooking.about.com/od/howtocookvegetables/a/blkbeantips.htm

There are lots of things to do with one pot of beans. I’ll be posting some of my favorites soon.

Here’s my tomato chipotle salsa recipe

  • One tomato (cut into manageable chunks)
  • a few cloves of garlic
  • chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • cilantro
  • lime juice
  • half a small onion (also cut into manageable chunks)
  • throw it all in a blender/small food processor and blend away
  • Done! Salsa forever!

What are your favorite tex mex recipes?