Italian

Basic Risotto

Ingredients: 

2 tablespoons olive oil

200g arborio rice

5 cups stock

fillings of your choice: try pumpkin, pea and feta; sun-dried tomato and baby spinach

 

1- Simmer stock on the stove, in a saucepan

2- In another saucepan, heat the oil, add the rice. Stir, coating the rice with oil, for 2 mins until you hear a cracking sound and rice becomes translucent.

3- add 1/2 cup stock to the rice, and stir until absorbed. continue adding stock this way until the rice is cooked.

4- After 15-20 mins, taste- the rice should be firm, but not crunchy.

5- Remove from heat, add whatever flavourings you want. Serve.

 

Serves 4

Recipe sourced from book: 4 ingedients by Kim McCosker & Rachael Bermingham

Vegetarian Lasagne

Ingredients: 

Mixed vegetables, chopped: try 1 onion, 1 capsicum, 2 zucchini, 1/2 cup frozen peas, 1 leek
500g vegetable stock
1 large tin canned tomatoes
1 jar tomato-based pasta sauce
1 tsp crushed garlic (optional)
1/4 jar tuscan seasoning (by Masterfoods)
2 tbsp tomato paste
500g pumpkin
500g frozen spinach, defrosted accoding to packet directions
1 can chickpeas (optional)
1 packet 8 mountain bread*
2 cups low fat milk
2 tbsp cornflour
1 cup low fat cheese
nutmeg and paprika, to taste

* mountain bread is a type of flat bread found in the bread isle of supermarkets. When cooked in this lasagne, it tastes just like pasta, but with a lighter texture and is much healthier. Alternatively, you can just use pasta sheets but note that the lasagne will need to be cooked in the oven for longer, until pasta is cooked.

1- Place vegetables, stock, tomato paste, pasta sauce, most of the tuscan seasoning and garlic in a large saucepan. Stir until combined and place on stove over medium heat. Put the lid on the saucepan and let it cook, for about 15-20 or until vegetables are soft.
2- Slice pumpkin thinly, then steam in microwave (put pumpkin in microwave safe bowl, add a few spoons of water, cover with gladwrap and cook for 5 mins, or until soft)

Creamy Pesto and Chicken Penne

Ingredients: 

300 g penne pasta
400 g chicken thighs, breasts or tenderloins 3
00 mL chicken stock
1 x 190 g jar sundried tomato pesto
¼ cup parmesan cheese
¼ cup cream
Extra parmesan cheese, for serving

1. Cook pasta until al dente.
2. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and fry until browned.
3. Add stock and bring to a simmer.
4. Stir through pesto until combined (about ½-¾ of the jar).
5. Add cream and return to simmer.
6. Stir through parmesan, and continue to simmer until chicken is cooked through.
7. Combine pasta and sauce to serve

Serves 4

Sourced with permission from www.bestrecipes.com.au and written by Jules2

Chicken Alfredo

Ingredients: 

Dry fettuccine pasta
250 g light cream cheese
4 tablespoons butter
½ cup milk
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 skinless boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cubed
2 cups fresh broccoli, chopped
2 small zucchinis, julienned
½ cup capsicum, chopped

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
2. Add pasta and cook for 10 minutes, then drain well.
3. While pasta is cooking melt cream cheese and butter in a pan over low heat. Stir until smooth. 4. Stir in milk and season with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
5. Simmer for 3 minutes stirring constantly.
6. Mix in chicken, broccoli, zucchini and red pepper.
7. Cook for 3 minutes over medium heat then reduce heat and simmer for a further 5 minutes.
8. Serve over fettuccine

Serves 4

Sourced with permission from www.bestrecipes.com.au and written by Cheeky.

Spicy Pasta Bake

Ingredients: 

Dash olive oil
1 garlic clove, finely diced
1 onion, diced
½ teaspoon hot chili paste Salt and pepper
1 x 300g tin four bean mix, drained
¼ red capsicum, diced
2 large button mushrooms, sliced
500 g beef mince
1 x 410g tin crushed tomato
200g macaroni
1 cup shredded cheese
Paprika & cayenne pepper

1. Heat oil in a pan and add garlic, onion, chili and a pinch each of salt & pepper. Turn until onion is translucent.
2. Add beans, capsicum & mushrooms and stir through.
3. Add beef and brown, turning regularly.
4. Add tomato, stir through and simmer 15 minutes.
5. In the meantime, cook pasta and pre-heat oven to 200°C.
6. Drain pasta and add to pan, mix through.
7. Transfer to a large Pyrex dish and top with cheese.
8. Sprinkle with paprika and cayenne, bake for 15 minutes until golden.

Serves 4+

Sourced with permission from www.bestrecipes.com.au and written by Kaz

Penne With Chorizo and Onion Sauce

Ingredients: 

375 g penne pasta 2 onions, sliced 2 chorizo sausages, sliced 440 g can tomato pieces 1/3 cup dry white wine Ground black pepper 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until 'al dente' 2. Meanwhile fry onion and chorizo for 2 minutes. 3. Add tomatoes with juice, wine and pepper. 4. Stir over medium heat for about 10 minutes. 5. Toss through drained penne and garnish with parsley Serves 4 Sourced with permission from www.bestrecipes.com.au and written by Janetw.

Pasta With Lemon Tuna Sauce

Ingredients: 

250 g fettucine
1 tablespoon oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 onion, chopped
3 teaspoons butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ cup chicken stock
1 teaspoon mustard
400g can tuna, drained
2 teaspoons corn flour
2 tablespoons cream
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Cook pasta to packet directions.
2. Fry garlic, onion and butter in a frying pan until onion is soft. Stir in lemon juice, stock, mustard and flaked tuna. Stir and cook for 5 minutes.
3. Blend cornflour with cream and whisk into tuna sauce. Cook a further 5 minutes. Stir in cheese just before serving.
4. Serve tuna over cooked pasta

Serves 4

Sourced with permission from www.bestrecipes.com.au and written by Lucy

Creamy Pesto Gnocchi

Ingredients: 

500 g potato gnocchi
1/2 cup light thickened cream
¼ cup sun-dried tomato pesto
150g chargrilled capsicum, finely chopped
150g baby spinach
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

1. Cook gnocchi in a large saucepand of boiling water, following the packet directions, until tender. Drain. Preheat grill on medium-high.
2. While gnocchi is cooking, heat another saucepan over medium-high heat. Add cream and pesto, simmer, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes or until slightly thickened.
3. Add capsicum and spinach, cook for 1 minute or until the spinach has just wilted.
4. Add gnocchi to cream mixture, toss to combine and then transfer to a greased 6 cm-deep baking dish.

Chicken, Bacon and Pea Risotto

Ingredients: 

500 g chicken breast fillets, cubed
250 g bacon pieces
1 cup frozen peas
1 L hot chicken stock
300 mL cream
½ cup white wine
2 cups arborio rice
Olive oil

1. In a large saucepan saute chicken and bacon in oil until chicken is cooked through.
2. Add the wine and rice and stir over medium heat until the liquid starts to absorb into the rice. 3. Add 1 cup of the stock and the peas and allow liquid to be absorbed.
4. Add the rest of the stock one cup at a time until all liquid has been absorbed.
5. Stir cream through and serve

Serves 4-6

Sourced with permission from www.bestrecipes.com.au and written by SarahM

Cheesy Tomato Macaroni

Ingredients: 

1 clove garlic, crushed
1 onion, chopped
4 bacon rashers, chopped
500g packet macaroni, cooked
1 x 420g can tomato soup
1 x 420g can diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cups grated cheese

1. In an electric frypan, gently saute garlic, onion and bacon in a little olive oil for 2 minutes.
2. Add remaining ingredients and stir until cheese has melted into the sauce.
3. Cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Serve in a bowl with a spoonful of grated parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

Serves 4

Sourced with permission from www.bestrecipes.com.au and written by Abrarose