Healthy sauces for pasta

[Anonymous]

I regularly send DD to lunch with some pasta. I always seem to put marinara or cottage cheese. What are some other healthy sauces I could try? Protein would be nice, but I use the whole wheat or barilla plus so the pasta has some extra protein in it. I am trying to avoid cream sauces.

[Anonymous]

Not a sauce, but my daughter loves pasta with olive oil, s/p, and cut up cherry or grape tomatoes with a sprinkle of parm cheese on top.

[Anonymous]

Cut some really good, fresh tomatoes into chunks, just warm them through with a little olive oil, fresh basil, then toss with your pasta and chunks of avocado.

Saute garlic in just a little olive oil, barely wilt some spinach, toss with pasta, top with cheese of choice - I like romano, ricotta salata, feta.

Saute garlic in olive oil, add chopped kale and not even a cup of broth. Braise until kale is tender. Toss with pasta and walnuts.

Steam carrots, put in blender with a tomato, salt, pepper, blend and toss with pasta. If you want more protein, add milk and cashews.

[Anonymous]

You can make a sauce with butternut squash, sauteed onions and garlic, and some spices. It's kind of a thick puree that is mostly veggie. I don't have the recipe onhand, but I'm sure you could experiment. It kind of has a sweet flavor to it.

[Anonymous]

@14:54,

I'm coming to your place for dinner. Thanks for the yummy recipes. Great ideas!

[Anonymous]

Sesame noodles. Can be made with a sauce of sesame paste or, for complete protein (in combination with the grain in pasta) peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, water, sugar, salt, garlic (optional), and black and/or red pepper to taste. Sprinkle scallions and various fresh julienned vegetables on top (we like cucumbers and carrots, sometimes red and yell peppers). Great served cold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:@14:54,

I'm coming to your place for dinner. Thanks for the yummy recipes. Great ideas!

Thanks! And actually, PP reminded me of another - grated fresh, or much easier, canned pumpkin. Brown some sausage, either loose or links cut into chunks, with garlic and sage. Add your pumpkin, warm through, and thin with broth or milk (or cream if you're the devil-may-care type!). Salt, pepper, if the kids aren't eating, a healthy shot of crushed red pepper.

[Anonymous]

I tried the pasta recipes with kale today and my son LOVED it. It's definitely a keeper. Keep them coming. This is really fun.

[Anonymous]

14:54 again - will your kids eat bell peppers? Stewed red, orange, yellow peppers make the MOST DELICIOUS, rich-tasting sauce. Stew some chicken in it or not, add a splash of wine or not, plenty of garlic, maybe a nice tomato at the end.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and cauliflower - sauté some garlic, add chopped cauliflower. You can use frozen, but fresh works MUCH better. Brown the cauliflower, deglaze with broth or pasta water, and toss with pasta, pine nuts, fresh parsley, and a little Romano.

[Anonymous]

@14:54

My son eats ANYTHING (any vegetable, fruit, meats). I'm very fortunate because it lets me experience with my cooking. Thanks again for all the recipes and ideas. I will put them to good use.

[Anonymous]

What about a pesto sauce with half the EVOO replaced by lemon juice? I don't know if your son will like it but you probably will. PS-use fresh basil! No dried stuff or anything in a tube.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about a pesto sauce with half the EVOO replaced by lemon juice? I don't know if your son will like it but you probably will. PS-use fresh basil! No dried stuff or anything in a tube.

I also make pesto with fresh parsley sometimes. Nice change of pace and it's much less expensive. You can also sub walnuts for the pine nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a sauce, but my daughter loves pasta with olive oil, s/p, and cut up cherry or grape tomatoes with a sprinkle of parm cheese on top.

We do the same but also add some fresh chopped basil if we have it. Also good is to substitute feta for the parm, maybe add fresh parsley as well, and instead of just olive oil, mix some lemon juice in with the olive oil. Delicious and it keeps well in a lunch box.