Spicy Herbed Fusilli Pasta

Last week I was in my cousin's house when I made this pasta dish. My niece Aks loved it so much that my cousin was so suprised to see her daughter eat this dish morsel after morsel. Yesterday my cousin called and told me that my niece asked her for that same pasta dish and  she had to make it for her. So i want to dedicate this dish for my niece Aks.

This is a simple pasta recipe with flavors that you will love. Nothing special or extraordinary but just the right flavor gives it a great taste. It is also very healthy. We can use wheat or multi grain pasta too. Multi grain pasta it adds more nutrional value to our food.

Serves - 2

Ingredients:

Fusilli Pasta - 2 cups ( You can use wheat or multi grain pasta also)
Yellow Bell Pepper - 1/2 cut lengthwise
Carrot - 1 cut lengthwise
Onion - 1 Cut lengthwise
Baby Spinach - 1/4 cup
Tomato onion garlic marinara sauce- 1 and 1/2 cup
Olive Oil - 2 Tbsps
Red Chilli Crushed or Chilli paste - 2 -3 Tbsps (depends on your spice level)
Herbed Feta cheese or any cheese of your choice - 1/4 cup
Dry or fresh herbs (Rosemary /Oregano / Basil / Mint) - 2 tsps
Salt - a pinch.

Preparation

In a large pan, boil 6-8 cups water and add the fusilli pasta and little salt. Cook till it becomes tender. Drain water and keep pasta aside.

In another pan, heat olive oil and add onion. Fry for 2 mins and add cut vegetables except spinach Add marinara pasta sauce and salt (if necessary as the pasta sauce already has salt in it) to the half cooked vegetables and let it cook for another 2 mins untill it mixes well. I add the chilli paste along with this mixture at this point to give that kick to the pasta dish. Those who prefer the traditional pasta can jus sprinkle crushed pepper on top just before serving.

Now add the cooked pasta and mix well. Sprinkle the cheese and spinach on top of the pasta and put it in the oven for about 25-30 mins just to set well. Pre heat the oven 375 degrees. Check in between to avoid burning of food. Now the pasta is ready to be served. Serve pasta with garlic bread and sprinkle dry herbs on top jus before serving. It gives good aroma to the food and herbs are anyways good for health.

You can make this same dish with penne, maccheroni, spaghetti, rigatoni. You can also include any vegetable of your choice. Kids will love this dish and its a great disguise for vegetables. Enjoy the dish and I will be back soon!