Looking for another quick dinner or lunch idea with tons of mileage that can be enjoyed either warm or cold? You’ve come to the right place! Pasta is a trusty vehicle to get fresh or frozen veggies into our bodies. Pasta itself can also be made with vegetables and packed with plant-protein and that in itself is the single biggest game-changer.
I started working and trying Explore Cuisine products about two years ago; and have been a steady fan ever since. It’s one thing to taut health benefits of pasta that’s supercharged with protein, etc. BUT, when that pasta also meets your expectations in the taste department and has 1-2 ingredients- can’t beat it. This pasta pretty much champions great texture on 1 ingredient: organic edamame flour. Totally my kinda product; and you will love it, too!
I initially set out to do a warm Caprese-style pasta; because let’s face it- wouldn’t it look pretty with the firm and perfect green edamame noodles? But then I had an epiphany; let’s go for something a bit simpler, but equally tantalizing. Fresh, cherry tomatoes sliced in half, creamy goat feta crumbs and a homemade balsamic glaze; that’s thick, rich, syrupy and with a simple olive oil and garlic sauce that goes PERFECTLY well with this dish.
It often surprises me how quite a few of you have shared that you’ve never made a DIY balsamic glaze at home. It goes perfectly over pasta, chicken, salads, and grilled vegetables. It’s even pretty awesome on top of your avocado toast; elevating it immediately.
A balsamic glaze essentially has 2 simple ingredients: good-quality balsamic vinegar and a sweetener of your choice. Most people go at it with brown sugar; but if you’re looking for healthier, lower in the glycemic index options you can go for coconut sugar, agave or raw honey. These two caramelize and reduce beautifully; giving the glaze it’s characteristic flavor and making it the perfect drizzle topping for all your food needs.
So please go ahead and give this unassuming little recipe a try; I promise you it will become a staple in your weekly dinner rotation. It also makes for a great take-to-work lunch; all you need to do is pack the balsamic glaze separately and add it/mix when you’re ready to eat. Another pro for next-day lunches? You can warm the noodles if you’d like- but they taste great cold, too. It’s honestly the perfect little meal either way!
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Balsamic Reduction
Ingredients
- 1 package of Explore Cuisine Organic Edamame Spaghetti
- 1 pint of organic cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- 3 cloves of fresh garlic, finely minced
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- sea salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley
- handful or arugula or rocket
- 1/2 cup grated fresh parmesan (optional)
- 1 cup of goat feta cut into cubes or crumbled
- pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Follow cooking instructions on the spaghetti box
- While the pasta cooks- mix balsamic vinegar with your unrefined sweetener of choice in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often until sugar or sweetener has dissolved and the glaze appears smooth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until glaze is reduced by about half, this takes ~15-20 minutes. Glaze should thicken and darken slightly. Let it cool and pour into a jar with a lid; always store in your fridge.
- Combine the minced garlic and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat to slowly warm up and roast garlic, ~5-7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low when olive oil begins to crackle and garlic is nice and golden, but not brown or black. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Season cooked and drained spaghetti with sea salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Pour in the olive oil and garlic mixture and toss well to coat spaghetti. Top with cherry tomatoes, parmesan and/or feta, arugula and fresh parsley. Drizzle with balsamic glaze as the finishing touch! Enjoy!
by: Aleyda Batarse | The Dish On Healthy
If you’re in a quick dinner rut, or loving all the pasta lately; I can’t recommend their products enough. They taste amazing; and are made with all good things and 1-2 ingredients tops. Can’t top that. Simply order them on amazon at Explore Cuisine
Happy Cooking! xx
This post was brought to you in partnership with my friends at Explore Cuisine. I only endorse brands I personally love and use myself. I appreciate your support and theirs.
