Tender pasta and beef surrounded by a luscious tomato sauce, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and served with a crusty loaf of bread – life is good! Here is a delicious and easy pasta dish you can have ready in 30 minutes for a quick meal everyone will love. This will become your go-to pasta recipe when you need a meal on the run or just don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. The taste will have everyone requesting it again and again – it is yummy!
This pasta dish is healthy, too. Tomato sauce is one of the richest sources of lycopene (healthy for your heart, in addition to other health claims). It’s said that the cooked tomato has more lycopene than fresh tomatoes, so tomato sauce is necessary for a healthy diet.
Some interesting information about the tomato is that in 1893, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the tomato to be a vegetable (Nix v Hedden – for those who are interested in looking up the case) – why does that matter, you ask? At that time, imported fruits were not taxed and imported vegetables were. U.S. farmers, in an attempt to limit competition, asked for backing from the Supreme Court and got it. And, as we all know, the tomato is really a fruit (as it contains seeds). This story and other interesting information is found on the website for Red Pack Tomatoes – who for the past 71 years has made really good, natural tomato products. They even have a tomato club you can join to get tomato recipes and a newsletter.
If you’re trying to limit your carbs, use whole wheat pasta or try Barilla’s Plus brand pasta which has protein and fiber. It’s everyone’s answer to the quest for a pasta that tastes good and isn’t loaded with unhealthy carbohydrates.
Easy Pasta Recipe
Ingredients for Easy Pasta:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 29-ounce can tomato puree
- ½ can water
- 2 ½ cups pasta, uncooked (penne, cavatappi, and rotini work well)
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tsp. oregano
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. pepper
- Parmesan cheese (optional)
Directions for making Easy Pasta:
In a large skillet or pan, combine the ground beef with the minced garlic and the chopped onion. Cook over medium-low heat breaking up the meat as it browns. Cook until the onion is translucent. Drain off any fat.
Add the tomato puree, then fill the empty can half-way with water and add that, add the uncooked pasta, sugar, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir together, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and cook until the pasta is tender – about 15 - 20 minutes. Serve topped with parmesan cheese and a loaf of crusty bread on the side.
(Adapted from food.com)
Other easy pasta meals:
Fresh tomatoes and pasta – this is SO delicious and easy to make!
Easy lasagna rollups – all the flavor and half the fuss
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