Day 20: Meatless Monday Begins!

A while back, I was reading an article on how just small tweaks to your regular meal routine, like Meatless Monday, for example, could go a long way toward improving your health. Dragon and I both love veggies, don't get me wrong, but Dragon himself, well, he's more carnivore than herbivore, so finding a recipe that worked for him too was... difficult.

And then I found this one.

Meatless Monday 30-Minute Meal

This recipe isn't very complicated, but I did have to make some adjustments. I was determined to get Dragon to eat this, so I wrangled up the following:

*White Fiber mini shells pasta
*Organic 'Bonzo beans
*Roma Tomatoes
*Sweet Onion
*Gourmet Mushroom blend
*Zucchini
*Yellow Squash
*Basil, Oregano, S&P
And, the most controversial ingredient of the night: Anchovy Paste. Sure, I could've left it out. But I was determined. We already had most of the stuff on hand, so we only had to get the produce and the paste. Not too expensive, at all.

So, first thing, you want to peel the tomatoes. The easiest way? Put that pot of water on for the pasta, bring it to a boil, then *carefully* plop those tomatoes in that boiling water.

When the skins split (trust me, this doesn't take long), take them out and run them under cold water. Peel away the skins and voila... naked tomatoes.

We actually had an amusing conversation about the "tomato is a fruit" and its resemblance to oversized peeled grapes.

Chop up half your onion (unless you *really* love them, and then you may as well put the rest in there) and set them off to the side.

Now is also a good time to chop up the zucchini, squash, and mushrooms too, by the by. And take the stemmy part off the tomatoes if you're so inclined.

For me, it's just easier to do everything in one bulk grouping before I actually start cooking. I *do* have the pan and oil heating though.

Into said pan goes a little Olive Oil, the onions, the garlic, and the anchovy paste. That little...poo-snake over there. -->

Yeah, it isn't the most appetizing looking thing in the world, but I'm seriously converted. It adds a depth of flavor to the dish that you just canNOT replicate without putting a ton more stuff in there.

Incidentally, I also bought a can of anchovies and attempted to eat them the next day. No. No thank you. Way too salty. I'll stick with the paste because even the Feline Mafa refused to eat more than half a single fillet.

Cook that through until the onions are translucent and soft. Careful not to burn the garlic, and stir in that paste.

It melts together. No, really. And the anchovy paste completely loses the fishiness.

Like... well, it's like sauerkraut. The longer you cook it the less bitter it is. The flavor intensifies into this utterly unique but lip-smackingly good extra oomph that a meatless dish like this really needs.

Add in your veggies and let cook until soft. Then the fun part:

Put in those peeled tomatoes and mash the heck out of it all with a potato masher. It crushes down into this chunky fabulous sauce. -->

Then, it's time to let it simmer down. Let those flavors meld. Add in the basil, oregano, S&P, too.

Now's a good time to have that pasta cooking and/or straining while the sauce finishes bubbling.

And then all you have to do is add the pasta and the 'bonzo beans to the sauce and there you go.

This ended up being super tasty, even Dragon raved about it. And it made enough for extras for a few days worth of lunch.

Hard to believe, but this is one of those leftover dishes that gets better the longer it sits in the fridge. Just pop some on a plate, eat cold or heat up for about 2 minutes in the microwave.

Delicious!
~Snarkstress