This recipe is everything you want from a pasta dish. It is quick, easy and tastes delicious! It is spicy, rich and vegetarian! Should I keep going? It is warming, filling and....okay I'll stop. But you get the idea. This is an amazing dish to have up your sleeve!
This week I have spent some time clearing up my pantry. It was getting really crazy in there!!! On Monday night the vegemite was no where to be found so I rummage about a bit and managed to knock an open bag of icing sugar off the top shelf! It went all over the shelves, me, and the floor! I was not a happy bunny! I know it should have been in a tupperware, but it wasn't, it was at the top of the pantry held closed by one of those little sticky tabs that come with the packet, i.e not really closed at all!
After I swept up what I could, I decided that a pantry overhaul was required. How right I was, amongst the numerous tins of tomatoes, lentils and chickpeas I found two jars of fennel seeds (who needs two jars??!?!) a jar of dried oregano, a refill packet of oregano and an empty oregano jar, two jars of roasted capsicum and my favourite discovery of all....13 unopened packets of pasta! Yes 13!!! Broken down into 3 packets of spaghetti, 4 packets of linguine, 3 bags of penne, 2 bags of macaroni and 1 packet of mini shells!!!! I have crowned myself the queen of pasta and will be using the macaroni to make my own homemade crown!!!!! 😉
What can I say?? I love pasta! But 13 packets!!!! I am well prepared for an Italian extravaganza! If you don't enjoy pasta then you might want to avoid my blog over the next few weeks. Actually please don't do that, I love having you around!
So with all of this in my head yesterday for lunch I whipped up some red chilli pesto (get the recipe here), cooked up a very big pan of linguine and made myself the best lunch: Red Chilli Pesto Pasta. Then to tame the heat and add a wonderful contrast, I dolloped on a spoonful of creamy mascarpone. Totally worth it!!!!
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Red Chilli Pesto Pasta with Mascarpone
Ingredients
- 500 g linguine
- salt
- 6 tablespoon chilli pesto (store bought or homemade)
- 4 tablespoon mascarpone
- fresh basil (garnish)
- parmesan (garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pan of water to a rolling boil.
- Salt generously and add the pasta.
- Cook your linguine for a minute less than the packet suggests.
- Check your pasta, it should be on the verge of being cooked but with some bite.
- Scoop ¼ cup of the pasta water out and set to one side.
- Drain the remaining water away and return the pasta to the pan.
- Spoon over the pesto and stir well.
- Add the reserved water and stir everything together over a low heat, until coated and glossy.
- Divide the pasta between 4 plates, add a spoonful of mascarpone, a sprinkling of parmesan and some basil leaves.
- Eat with gusto 🙂
Hotly Spiced says
That's a lovely looking pasta and I love how it requires just a few ingredients. My pantry is also screaming for attention - I have so much stuff stuffed onto every shelf and nook and cranny. I really need to sort it out - maybe today! xx
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Charlie. Pasta dishes that take 10 minutes to prepare are my favourite 🙂
The problem with sorting the pantry out is within days it seems just as disorganised as before, the only difference is you know (rather than think) the risotto rice is in there, but you still can't find it!!!! xx
[email protected] says
a) Love the photos!
b) LOVE the pesto. I made some the other day. It was the highlight of an otherwise kitchen disaster day!
c) Pinning & sharing!!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you 🙂
Oh good! Well good you liked the pesto not that you had a kitchen disaster day! Although I can't believe you had a disaster in the kitchen, everything you make looks divine! Was it as true disaster???? Did you have to throw a pan and it's contents out? 😉
Jo says
I read your blog at work and today I was sat giggling at my desk, 13 packets of pasta is quite an achievement!!
After I stopped giggling I had to try and explain to my co-workers what was so funny!!!
I once found 3 bags of rice in the cupboard and thought I was a food hoarder, but I think you deserve the macaroni crown!
Claire McEwen says
Hope your boss likes food blogs 😉
And thank you, I am so glad I am not the only carb hoarder!!!
Karen says
Hehe, I remember you doing the pasta project at school? You ate pasta for nearly every meal for weeks!
That cheese sauce was THE BEST EVER!!!!!!
Claire McEwen says
Ha, Karen I do!!!! Loved me a bit of pasta even back then 🙂
Pasta cheese in a mug! I was so ahead of my time!!! That is a phenomenon now!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Haha! I love (and hate) cleaning out the pantry. I always end up asking myself, "what was I thinking!? Who needs 10 of ____" and/or "Oh, Yay! I was looking for this!" So funny you found so much pasta, recently I discovered I must really like grains, because I found a crap ton of different varieties in the back of my pantry. Anyways, this pasta looks and sounds delish! I am loving the red chili pesto with the creamy mascarpone! Such a scrumptious combination! And over pasta? Gimme dat! Thanks for sharing the yum (and your funny story)! Cheers!
Claire McEwen says
So pleased you like the look of the pasta. We have eaten it a couple of times this week!!!! Pasta will be on the menu most nights for a while 😉
Always like to share a story
I had quite a few bags of lentils too, oh and don't get me started on the different varieties of rice I had in there!!!
Definitely a carb queens pantry 😉
[email protected] Peas and Peonies says
wow love that you used mascarpone, it must be so creamy and delicious!
Claire McEwen says
Yes, it adds so much to the dish. And tones down the spice 🙂
Katalina @ Peas & Peonies says
Thats exactly why I like using mascarpone in my dishes!
Claire McEwen says
Yup. So yummy and versatile. I nearly always have a pot in the fridge 🙂