Grilled Vegetable Pasta

October 26, 2011 / No Comments

Grilled vegetable pasta is a nice excuse to get out of the kitchen! This is a great pasta to make during the hot summer months when fresh vegetables are at their peak. The vegetables themselves are the sauce and because they are cut into chunky pieces this recipe works best with short dried pasta shapes such as rigatoni, fusilli, or penne. This is a great recipe to add to your menu if you are already firing up the grill, and you can use whatever seasonal vegetables you prefer. To enhance the nutritional value of this dish, choose a whole grain pasta, and keep the pasta portion limited and instead fill up your plate with lots of the grilled veggies.

Why Healthy

In addition to featuring a host of vitamins and minerals, eggplant also contains important phytonutrients, many which have antioxidant activity.
Tomatoes are rich in Lycopene, vitamin C, potassium, iron, and fiber.
Peppers are rich in carotenoids, a pigment that helps to boost immunity, and to fight cancer and heart disease. One small red pepper gives you up to three times your daily requirement of vitamin C.

Grilled Vegetable Pasta

Grilled vegetables become the sauce in this healthy and tasty pasta dish.

Yield: Serves 6

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

1 Pound Dried Pasta Such as Fusilli or Rigatoni, Whole Grain or Enriched Preferred
12 Ripe Plum Tomatoes, Halved
2 Medium Onions, Peeled And Halved
1 Small Eggplant, Sliced
2 Bell Peppers, Halved
2 Tablespoon Capers, Chopped
12 Black Olives, Chopped
1/2 Cup Fresh Parsley, Chopped
1/2 Cup Fresh Basil, Chopped
6 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Minced Garlic Cloves
6 Tablespoons Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
Fresh Ground Pepper
Dash of Salt
Dash of Red Pepper Flakes (Optional)
Additional Grated Cheese For Serving

Directions:

Grill the tomato, pepper, eggplant, and onion halves over medium heat until browned and tender.
Remove from the heat and coarsely chop.
Cook the pasta al dente.
While the pasta is cooking, mix together the oil, garlic, herbs, olives, capers and seasonings.
Drain the pasta and add the seasoning mix.
Add the chopped onions, cheese, peppers and tomatoes and cook a minute or two over medium heat until everything is piping hot.
Serve, offering additional cheese if desired.