Fall is upon us and time is ticking. Between soccer, ballet, gym, and your personal tasks, cooking something super quick for dinner can be a challenge. But have no fear! This one is a weekly regular at our home and we LOVE IT. I’m presenting you with our favorite and offering options to keep it squeaky clean from grains by using Zucchini Noodles! I use my B & B Pesto recipe but you can use store bought or your own creation.
In this recipe, I used Bio bacon from a local farmer that had been cut very thin. I have also made it using Bio chicken and with Bio sausage. You can also make this vegetarian or as a side dish by simply leaving out the meat. Use any seasonal veggies you have and turn this easy, fast meal into your own creation. It’s sure to become one of the weekly regulars that you can make in a snap.
ONE POT PASTA!
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp ghee for sautéing your meat
- 1 lb diced organic bacon or no GMO chicken, Italian sausage
- 1 pkg gluten free pasta or zucchini noodles
- 1/2 cup fresh green beans washed & julienne
- 2 medium carrots washed & julienne
- 2 stalks green onions washed & julienne
- 2 tomatoes diced
- 1/2 cup mushrooms sliced
- 1 grated zucchini use a food processor
- 1/4 cups green or black olives sliced in thin rings
- 1 Tbsp capers or more!
- himalayan salt
- ground pepper
- 1/2 cups pesto store bought or my B & B Pesto
Directions
- Step 1 In a large pot add the ghee and stir fry your bacon until done. When I use meats without GMO they tend to need a little fat to get them fried, yes, even bacon! Set the meat aside. Leave the meat leavings and ghee in the pot. Fill the pot with water and heat to a rapid boil.
- Step 2 While the water is coming to a boil, prep your veggies (and make the pesto). Wash, dice and set aside. As I said, you can use any veggies laying around for this one. If you’re using zucchini noodles instead of gluten-free pasta noodles see the tip below for adding them at the end.
- Step 3 Grate your zucchini or place in a food processor until grain size. Set aside!
- Step 4 Dice up your olives and if using, scoop out your 1 tablespoons of capers or more. Set aside!
- Step 5 Once the water is boiling add your pasta. Once the water is boiling add your pasta. I found it takes 7-8 minutes for my brand. Boil for 3 minutes
- Step 6 After the noodles have been boiling for 3 minutes, add green beans, carrots and any other firm veggies you have chosen to the boiling pasta. These take the longest to cook and really just need to be blanched. Cook them for 3 minutes along with the pasta.
- Step 7 After 3 minutes, add the mushrooms, tomatoes, green onions and other softer veggies you might be using that only need a few minutes to blanch. Boil for 1 to 2 minutes. This should be 7-8 minutes total. Check your pasta!
- Step 8 Once pasta is tender, drain the pasta and veggies!
- Step 9 Now add the remaining ingredients, pesto, grated zucchini, olives, capers and bacon or what ever meat you have prepared.
- Step 10 Give it a nice mixing!
- Step 11 Snap it up with a little salt and pepper. You can always add a dash of Italian seasoning as well but for sure a shake or two of red peppers gives it a power punch!
- Step 12 We enjoy this dish with Brazil Nut Parmesan! See the link below.
- Step 13 Store the leftovers in a sealed container for lunch tomorrow…that’s if there’s any left!
I'm Melinda Stevens and living the life of a beach bum was inevitable since my father was a lifeguard for the city of Los Angeles. My memories of growing up on John Street in Manhattan Beach, California were filled with joy, excitement and adventures; until my world, as I knew it, fell apart when we moved to Del Mar, California. My father was offered the position as Captain of the lifeguards and we started the slow migration to the small deserted stretch of beach in 1963. At twelve years old, this seemed like the end of my life. Remember, I’m writing with clear hindsight now, ok somewhat clearer… Little did I know this would be the beginning of a new journey and give a bit more clarity to many of the events that led me to this new cooking adventure.