Monday, 7 September 2009

Chorizo, Vegetable & Pasta Bake

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I know. It has been a long time. I needed a break and I took it, traveling out to the Western Isles and Germany and also just enjoying time with friends at home. If you want to see some of the places I went and some of the things that I saw have a look at Photobooth. I'll let the pictures do the talking this time.

I finally got back on Saturday and yesterday E and JM came up for a simple dinner of Chorizo and Vegetable Pasta Bake. I got the recipe from a card I picked up at Waitrose in Edinburgh. It appealed to me instantly with it's few simple ingredients.
I adjusted it slightly as it needed garlic and more cheese in my opinion, but the main ingredients didn't change. At one point the original recipe just states to season the sauce, but not how, so below is my take on seasoning as well.



Chorizo, Vegetable & Pasta Bake (serves 4)

olive oil
a handful fresh basil leaves, shredded
1 clove of garlic, minced
400gr tinned chopped tomatoes
2tsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp powdered vegetable stock
1/2 green pepper
1/2 red pepper
1 aubergine (eggplant), cut in half lengthways
350gr dried Penne Pasta
125gr mozzarella, torn into chunks
1/2 cup grated cheese
250gr chorizo, cut into bite-sized chunks

Preheat your oven to 200C.

Heat some oil in a frying pan, add the basil and garlic and fry for 30 seconds before adding the chopped tomatoes.

Simmer for 5 minutes and season with the vegetable stock powder, sugar and salt and pepper to taste.

While the sauce is simmering, brush the peppers and aubergine halves with some oil and fry in a griddle or frying pan for 10 minutes, turning once. (I found it easier to half the peppers again into quarters, to cook them more evenly.)

While the vegetables are frying cook the pasta in plenty of salt water until al dente, drain and mix with the tomato sauce.

Transfer into a large baking dish.

Cut the cooked vegetables into strips and carefully stir into the pasta.

Tuck the chorizo into the top of the pasta and top with the grated cheese and fresh mozzarella.

Bake for 15 minutes.

14 comments:

Gloria Baker said...

aahh! Sylvie this look absolutely tasty, love chorizo! xx xx Gloria

Marie Rayner said...

Looks great Sylvie. I have had this very recipe on my short list to make and your picture is telling me I can't wait any longer! I just love Waitrose recipes!

Nic said...

That looks like a great recipe.
Welcome back, will check out your photos!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful hopliday break..now it's back to comfort foods:D

lauralcharles said...

This looks amazing. Can't wait to try it - thanks!

The Blushing Hostess said...

Chorizo: A food I would take to a desert island! Looks and sounds delicious, thank you!

Parita said...

Oooh i love baked pasta, looks delicious, slurp!

Sam said...

I love chorizo, this looks really good!

Maggie said...

The pasta bake looks wonderful and comforting.

pigpigscorner said...

Anything with chorizo for me! This looks and sounds wicked good!

Anonymous said...

I've not cooked a lot of baked pasta dishes, apart from lasagne and cannelloni. I really like the look of this though, especially with the chorizo.

Palidor said...

That looks delicious! I love chorizo, but can't get it in the grocery store.

Anne said...

I picked up the card too in our local Waitrose (along with the chicken risotto card, very good btw!), its currently on the fridge awaiting cooking, for my brother to come around as he is the only person I know (apart from me!) who loves aubergine! I will up the cheese and look forward to trying! :)

La Bella Cooks said...

My goodness, could this be more heavenly? I love this pasta recipe!