Recipe: Pasta and Bread Crumbs?

That is all I know to call this; the recipe title officially has a question mark in it!


Shopping List
Pasta (penne or spaghetti)
Bread crumbs (seasoned is a good choice for this recipe, but if you have plain bread crumbs you simply add your own seasoning!)
Tofu (firm) – okay, you can skip this ingredient, but why?
Any variety of vegetables, olives, or onion (see recipe below for variation suggestions)

Pantry Check
Extra virgin olive oil
Oregano
Basil
Black pepper
Garlic


Cook 1lb penne or spaghetti according to package instructions (do not drain pasta, leave it in the water)

Heat oil in a frying pan (enough to cover pan)


Mince garlic and infuse into the oil (or chop garlic really small and let cook in the oil – keep heat medium to low and do not burn the garlic!)

Sprinkle 1 cup bread crumbs (if your bread crumbs are not seasoned, season them now – I use oregano, basil, and black pepper).

Allow bread crumbs to soak up oil. Keep heat low and allow bread crumbs to toast; stir them occasionally.

When pasta is cooked (usually in about the time it takes you to do the bread crumbs) use a slotted spoon (or really any large spoon) to transfer pasta to frying pan. Do not worry about bringing water with the pasta; you want water in the frying pan!

Then add two (or more) spoonfuls of the pasta water to the frying pan and toss the bread crumbs around the pasta (stir, stir, stir until the pasta is coated). Bread crumbs should be nice and wet and sticking to the pasta – if not, then just add some more pasta water.

At this point anything goes – add whatever you like to the pasta.

Last night I added sliced green olives (Yes! Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it), tofu (my son loves it; really), and green peas, then grated parmesan cheese over top.

Add any vegetables that your family likes (or that they will eat if it is with yummy pasta). Steam then toss in: broccoli, carrots, squash, peas, green beans, what else can you name?

Or sauté some onions and add those along with a vegetable. You can add fresh tomato; I add tofu to virtually everything. Also, a variety of olives would be really delicious in this recipe (green, black, and kalamata).


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