Even though I cook every day, I feel like I haven’t been cooking many fabulous new meals lately; but as I was quickly pulling this dinner together last night, I was thinking that for most of us, this is actually the reality – quickly trying to create something tasty and (hopefully) nutritious for our family dinner. So I decided to write about it anyway…
Now I’m writing about it, this sort of pasta is probably my favourite anyway – lots of vegetables and a bit of meat (usually some sort of pork product) tossed through pasta with garlic and olive oil – really simple and really delicious…
I had a packet of buckwheat pasta from a gluten-free visitor, some left over roast chicken, our favourite Piallago Farm bacon, lots of parsley, a couple of zucchini and a yellow capsicum (pepper). This was the result last night, but you can probably see this is almost infinitely variable depending on what you have in the fridge or pantry. I’ve suggested a couple of alternatives I like in the recipe.
Buckwheat penne with chicken, bacon, zucchini and capsicum
- 340g buckwheat penne (or other short pasta, GF or not)
- 100g bacon (or pancetta, chorizo etc)
- 150g cooked chicken (optional)
- 2 medium zucchini (or cooked sweet potato or pumpkin)
- 1 yellow capsicum (or eggplant, tinned artichokes, cauliflower)
- 2 spring onions
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 Tbs olive oil
- about 1/4 bunch parsley (or basil or tarragon)
Put a large pot of water on to boil with a small handful (about 1Tbs) of salt. When the water is boiling, add the pasta to the pot and cook according to packet directions. Drain well.
While the pasta is cooking, heat a large heavy frying pan over medium low heat with the oil. Chop bacon roughly, add to the pan and fry until browned and most of the fat is released.
Roughly chop the zucchini and capsicum, and finely slice the spring onion and garlic and add to the frying pan, cooking until the zucchini is lightly brown. Reduce heat, add the chopped chicken and parsley, and cook gently until heated through.
Toss through the drained pasta, season with salt and pepper, and top with extra parsley. Serve with grated parmesan if you like.
Serves four
Paradiva said:
Looks and sounds delicious! Those buckwheat penne look scrumptious!
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Beck @ Goldenpudding said:
They are definitely worth a try, and with that earthy buckwheat flavour would go really well with something like mushrooms too…
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Anne said:
This sounds amazing! Pasta is a fave of mine too! 😀
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Beck @ Goldenpudding said:
Thanks Anne, it’s a great way of using up bits and pieces!
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estherpavelwood said:
Gluten free pasta – happiness. 🙂
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Beck @ Goldenpudding said:
And buckwheat has a really distinctive earthy flavour that I love – not just ‘cause it’s gluten free 🙂
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estherpavelwood said:
True – I find buckwheat itself quite difficult to cook in a palatable way though.
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Beck @ Goldenpudding said:
I know what you mean – I love buckwheat cakes, biscuits, pancakes etc, but the only thing I use the buckwheat groats themselves in regularly is muesli…
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estherpavelwood said:
Do you make the cakes and biscuits with buckwheat flour? I have to say I have eaten some of those “raw” desserts which often use buckwheat groats as a base with coconut milk or something similar and I love it like that. Yummy and crunchy!
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Beck @ Goldenpudding said:
buckwheat flour yes – I haven’t tried the buckwheat groat desserts…
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