Spaghetti Bolognese
Vegetable Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce - A Delicious Recipe for the Whole Family
Who can resist a serving of savory spaghetti, especially when made with love and fresh ingredients? This vegetable spaghetti with tomato sauce recipe is not only a delicious choice but also a perfect opportunity to bring the family together at the table. Whether you're a cooking enthusiast or a beginner, I will guide you step by step to achieve a perfect result. Let's embark on this adventure!
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Necessary Ingredients
- Barilla spaghetti no. 1 - 250 g
- Zucchini - 1 medium piece
- Carrots - 2 pieces
- Celery - 2 slices
- Onion - ½ piece
- Green beans - a few pods
- Fresh tomatoes - 2-3 pieces (or canned tomatoes)
- Chicken breast - 300 g
- Butter cube - 1 piece
- Fresh parsley - a few sprigs (optional)
- Thyme - a pinch
- Salt - to taste
The Story Behind the Recipe
Spaghetti is a symbol of Italian cuisine, but pasta recipes have become a global phenomenon. This recipe is a personal adaptation, blending tradition with fresh garden ingredients. Each ingredient adds not only flavor but also nutrients, making this dish a healthy choice for the whole family.
Nutritional Benefits
This recipe is full of vegetables, rich in vitamins and minerals, while the chicken breast provides an excellent source of protein. The calories are moderate, making this dish a suitable option for a balanced diet. A serving contains approximately 400 calories, depending on the amount of vegetables used.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Preparing the Vegetables
Start by peeling, washing, and chopping the vegetables: zucchini, carrots, celery, onion, and green beans. Make sure to cut them into small cubes for even cooking.
2. Boiling the Vegetables
Place the vegetables in a pot of boiling salted water. Boil them for 10-15 minutes until they become slightly tender. If using fresh tomatoes, add them to the pot now to cook along with the vegetables. If using canned tomatoes, you can add them to the sauce later.
3. Cooking the Chicken Breast
Separately, place the chicken breast in cold water and bring it to a boil. Once it has boiled, rinse it with cold water and continue to boil it together with the vegetables to enrich its flavor.
4. Preparing the Tomato Sauce
After the vegetables and chicken breast have boiled, remove them to a plate. If the tomatoes have many seeds, pass them through a sieve. Now, use the boiled vegetables (zucchini, carrot, celery, onion) and a piece of chicken breast and mash them together to form a puree.
5. Boiling the Spaghetti
In the broth in which the vegetables were boiled, add the spaghetti and cook them according to the package instructions, usually between 3-5 minutes.
6. Preparing the Sauce
In a pan, melt the butter cube. Once melted, add the tomatoes (boiled or canned) and stir continuously. If the sauce is too thick, you can add some of the broth from the boiled vegetables, little by little, until you achieve the desired consistency. Add thyme and salt to taste.
7. Finalizing the Dish
When the spaghetti is ready, drain it and add it to the pan over the tomato sauce. Mix everything well and let it come to a quick boil to combine the flavors.
8. Serving
You can cut the spaghetti into smaller pieces to make it easier to eat, especially for the little ones. Add the mashed vegetables with the meat and mix well. If you have fresh parsley, chop it finely and sprinkle it on top for added freshness.
Useful Tip
If you want to add extra flavor, you can incorporate some spices like dried basil or oregano. Additionally, grated parmesan on top will turn the dish into a delight!
Possible Variations
- For a vegetarian option, you can replace the chicken breast with tofu or tempeh.
- Add other vegetables depending on the season, such as bell peppers or zucchini.
- For a spicy note, add a little chili pepper to the sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use whole grain pasta?
Absolutely! Whole grain pasta is a healthy option and adds extra fiber.
2. How can I make the sauce creamier?
You can add cooking cream or a cheese sauce for a creamier consistency.
3. What can I do with leftovers?
You can store leftovers in the fridge, and the next day you can make a delicious soup by adding chicken or vegetable broth.
Serving Suggestions
This dish pairs perfectly with a fresh green salad and a glass of white wine or a natural citrus juice. Enjoy, and don't forget to share the joy of this dish with your loved ones!
Whether you choose to prepare it for a family dinner or a festive meal, vegetable spaghetti with tomato sauce is an inspired choice that will bring smiles to everyone's faces.
We prepare the vegetables, clean them, wash them, and boil them. Since I had tomatoes in the freezer (from my mother's garden, a miracle, nothing less!), I preferred to boil the tomatoes for the sauce along with the vegetables, because they wouldn't have cooked properly otherwise. If you use canned tomatoes, I don't think it's necessary to boil them. Separately, we put the chicken breast in cold water and bring it to a boil. After it has boiled well, we rinse it with cold water and continue to boil it, but together with the vegetables. Once both the vegetables and the meat are cooked, we remove them onto a plate. We strain the tomatoes if they have too many seeds (as in my case) and use them to make the sauce. From the vegetables, we take as much as we think is necessary for one serving (pumpkin, carrot, onion, celery, green beans) and mash them together with a piece of meat. In the broth they were boiled in, we add the spaghetti and bring it to a boil for 3-5 minutes. In a pan, we put the cube of butter. Once it has melted, we add the tomatoes and stir continuously. If the sauce seems too thick, we can add a little of the broth from the boiled vegetables. We add thyme and a pinch of salt. Meanwhile, we take the cooked pasta and, towards the end, add it to the sauce, bringing everything to a boil together. From here, everyone proceeds as they wish. I took the spaghetti and cut it finely on a board. I added 2 tablespoons of sauce and the mashed vegetables with the meat, mixed everything, and it was done. Enjoy your meal little ones, and a light appetite to the moms! :) P.S. I didn't have fresh parsley, but it would have been great!
Ingredients: some Barilla spaghetti no. 1 a zucchini 2 carrots 2 slices of celery half an onion some green beans 2-3 tomatoes a piece of chicken breast a cube of butter green parsley a bit of thyme salt - optional.
