Rigatoni Recipe

by Eric Chopin
(Foodandwine.com)

A quick and easy pasta sauce is a great way to use the roasted vegetables I often keep in my fridge. Occasionally I will add a little oil but the roasted vegetables taste so nice that they become the pasta sauce on their own.


Whole Wheat Rigatoni Recipe with Roasted Vegetables

Ingredients:

• One 1 1/2 pound acorn squash, scrubbed—cut crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick rings, seeds discarded

• 1 small red onion, sliced 1/4 inch thick

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

• Salt and freshly ground pepper

• 6 large plum tomatoes, halved and cored

• 12 unpeeled garlic cloves

• 1/2 pound whole wheat rigatoni

• 2 tablespoons pine nuts

• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

• 4 kalamata olives, pitted and sliced

• 1/4 cup thinly sliced basil leaves

• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

• 2 tablespoons freshly grated pecorino cheese


Preparation:

• Preheat the oven to 350°. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the squash and onion with 1 tablespoon of the oil; season with salt and pepper and spread in a single layer. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of the oil on another large rimmed baking sheet; add the tomato halves and garlic and roll to coat with oil. Season the tomatoes with salt and pepper and turn them cut side down.

• Transfer both sheets to the oven. Roast for about 40 minutes, until tender. Using tongs, transfer the garlic to a bowl; continue roasting the tomatoes for about 20 minutes longer, until very soft. Roast the squash and onion for about 45 minutes total, until tender and golden brown. Cut the squash into bite-size pieces. Discard the tomato skins and coarsely chop the flesh. Squeeze the garlic out of the skins.


• In a pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the water. Return the pasta to the pot.

• Meanwhile, in a skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the pine nuts and toast over moderate heat until golden. Add the crushed red pepper and olives and cook for 1 minute. Add the vegetables and stir over moderately high heat until heated through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and scrape into the pasta; add the reserved cooking water, basil and parsley and toss. Serve the pasta in bowls, topping each with 1/2 tablespoon of the pecorino.


Nutritional Values Per Serving:
496 cal, 69 gm carb, 21 gm fat, 3.1 gm sat fat, 14 gm protein, 12 gm fiber.

Original Rigatoni Recipe


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The nutrition plan is one of the healthiest we have seen, a strong core focus on vegetables, fruits, vitamin dense foods, lean proteins, select dairy produce and a clear approach to not expecting one diet to work for all body types. So give it a try and let me know how you’re doing.*