Chorizo, Capsicum & Semi Dried Tomato Pasta

It's been quite a while since I shared something here in my blog. There has been quite a lot of changes in my personal life and cirscumstances that left me quite tight with my schedule.

Anyway, yesterday I was hosting a get together among a small group of friends from the Philippines. I served them pasta, pork barbecue and spring rolls.

One of my guests, Vi, sent me a text message today to say how she liked the pasta and requested me to share with her the recipe.

I thought, it would be a wonderful idea to also share it with all of you who might be interested.

Over the years, I have learned to cook using just my palate as my guide to taste for what I prepare. In case, the volume of my ingredients here is not enough for your taste, please feel free to make your own adjustments.

Here's the recipe:

Chorizo, Capsicum & Semi Dried Tomato Pasta

Ingredients:

Pasta (of your choice) , 500g., cooked as per package direction.

¼ c. olive oil
1 tbsp. garlic, chopped
2 pcs. brown onions, diced
Spanish Chorizo, 3 pcs, sliced or cubed
semi-dried tomatoes, 250 g.
1 1/2 cups capsicum or bell pepper, diced
1/4 c. parsley, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Parmesan Cheese

Procedure:
1. Cook the pasta as per package direction. While it is cooking, prepare the pasta sauce.
2. Saute the garlic in olive oil until lightly browned. Put in the onions. Cook until it turns opaque.
3. Put in the chorizo. Stir every now and then.
4. Drop in the semi-dried tomatoes and capsicum.
5. Stir gently. Taking care not to overcook the capsicum and crumble the chorizo.
6. Season with salt and pepper according to your taste.
7. Sprinkle the parsley. Mix well.
8. Mix the cooked pasta with the sauce.
9. Serve with parmesan cheese.

Yield: 6-8 servings

Tips:
1. Use all three colors (red, yellow and green) of capsicum, if they are available. It makes the dish look more appealing.
2. Use freshly ground pepper. It gives a much better taste than the ready made one.
3. If you want a spicy pasta dish, you can put in chopped chili after the garlic.
4. You may substitute the chorizo with canned tuna, ham or bacon. Or if you want to go vegetarian, skip this ingredient from the recipe.
5. The parmesan cheese may be substituted with cheddar or tasty cheese as you wish.

Easy Pasta Recipe: Pasta with Hungarian Sausage & Bell Peppers

My children love Italian Food so much especially pasta. At least once every week they expect me to serve them pasta.

I like pasta dishes, too. It is a one-dish meal and very easy to prepare.

My children are not the typical Filipino kids who love to eat the pasta/ spaghetti with the sweet meat-hotdog tomato sauce. No, that's not the kind of pasta they like. They are actually more into the authentic Italian flavors.

I remember one time when most of my kids where still in grade school and I brought Pasta with Pesto Sauce in school for their lunch. I noticed how amazed some of the other kids (and parents, too) were as they look at the green colored spaghetti we were eating!

My kids love pasta and everything Italian, and so do I.

Once in awhile I experiment with anything and everything I have in my kitchen. I actually love creating dishes out of anything. It's a bonus when my family delights in my creation.

Sometimes when I like a certain dish I have tried in a restaurant, I try to recreate it at home in my own kitchen. I just love it when I am able to do something from anything!

However, it becomes a "problem" sometimes when I don't take notes of what I have done. The moment the kids ask for a repeat of the dish, I am at a lost. I am unable to repeat the taste of what I have done previously. But luckily these days, I have learned to take down notes. I am now able to pass on to others, especially to my two older kids my very own recipes.

I find Italian pasta very easy to prepare. Here's one recipe that I want to share with you.

PASTA WITH HUNGARIAN SAUSAGE, BASIL & BELL PEPPERS

Ingredients:

400 g. spaghetti, cooked as directed
1/4 cup olive oil
hungarian sausage, sliced
1/2 head chopped garlic
2 pcs. sliced red onions
3 pcs. bell pepper strips
5 pcs. tomatoes, seeded and cubed
1 tbsp. chopped fresh basil leaves
1 tsp. fine salt

Procedure:
1. Cook pasta as directed.
2. Saute hungarian sausage until cooked using 1 tbsp olive oil. Darin from oil. Set aside
3. Pour remaining oilive oil with the oil used for the sausage. Cook garlic until light brown in the same oil used for sausage.
4. Add onion. Cook until opaque.
5. Add about a tsp of fine salt.
6. Add sausage, bell peppers. Cook until bell pepper has softened a bit.
7. Add tomatoes and basil. Mix.
8. When ready to serve. Mix cooked pasta with the sauce.
9. Serve with parmesan cheese.

Cooking Tips:
For best taste, do not substitute the olive oil with an ordinary cooking oil. Get the best brand that you can afford.
As much as possible use fresh basil. (I love basil and the flavor and smell it gives!)