Penne all'arabiata/Pasta in simple tomato sauce, tried and tasted from Chef In You

Pasta is one such food, that I cook at least once a week, sometimes more than once. And I don't bother at all as this is very healthy for kids, too. Almost all Pastas are low in fat and is good source of daily Fiber and protein. Pasta is very low in sodium and cholesterol-free. Pasta is an excellent source of complex carbohydrates which provide a slow release of energy. Unlike simple sugars that offer a quick, yet fleeting boost of energy, pasta helps sustain energy.But try to choose those pastas which are made of Whole Wheat Pasta. Whole wheat pasta can provide up to 25% of daily fiber requirements in every one cup portion.

Here are some health benefits you can get from pasta :

• Pasta meals help lower the glycemic index of a meal.
• Pasta can be beneficial for those with diabetes.
• Pasta may reduce the risk of breast cancer.
• Pasta may lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
• Pasta meals with tomato-based sauces may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
• Pasta meals can help people maintain or lose weight.
• Pasta does not lead to abdominal obesity. 

So, those are enough reasons, one can include pasta in their diet. I just love pasta for some anytime quick lunch/dinner or for Kid's Lunchbox or for quick afternoon snack. Moreover, I like it because, pasta cooked with some vegetables can be a great filling one-pot meal, which you can execute in very less time.

I tried this Penne all'arabiata from Dhivya's(DK) blog, Chef In You, few months back but couldn't publish it before. Now, This is best time to publish it, as we are trying and showcasing her recipes for this month's Tried & Tasted event. Thank you Dhivya, for this wonderful recipe. I followed her recipe as it is, but added some vegetables in it....
Here goes my recipe ...................

Ingredients :

Penne Pasta : about 1 and 1/2 cup
Vegetables: carrot, Green, yellow and red bell peppers(capsicum), broccoli & corn ( I added some fried chicken sausages, too)
Onion (big) : 1 (finely chopped)
Garlic cloves : 3-4 (minced)
Tomatoes : 3-4(medium), finely chopped
Fresh Red chilli : 1-2, finely chopped (can use dried red chilli flakes)
Salt and black pepper to taste
Olive oil/canola oil : 2-3 tblsp.
Parmesan cheese : little (to garnish)
Fresh parsley : to garnish

Method :

• Cook pasta as per package direction until al dante with 1 tsp. oil and a pinch of salt. Drain and set aside.
• Cut vegetables in thin and small pieces.
• Heat oil in a wide pan, stir fry the veges until tender. Set aside. In the same pan, add onions and stir fry until onions turn brown. Then add minced garlic and chillies. 
• Now add the tomatoes and turn up the heat. Once the tomatoes start to get soft and ooze liquid, turn the heat into a simmer for about 5-6 minutes so that it forms into a sauce.
• Drain the pasta and add it to the sauce. Season with salt and black pepper. Mix well with pastas. Add veges and mix them too. 
• Serve pasta in a wide plate. Garnish with grated parmesan and parsley.
• Serve hot or in room temperature.

Sending this to this month's Tried & Tasted Event, hosted by Priya of Priya's easy N tasty Recipes, this event is started by Lakshmi of kitchen Chronicles
And to Blog Bites# 8 : One dish Meals, hosted & created by Nupur of One hot Stove