A vibrant Tunisian pasta flavored with harissa and carom seeds. This is a complete meal packed with proteins from chickpeas, and veggies like spinach and mushrooms. The sparkling flavors will dance on your tongue for a long time.
Here’s something fresh, spicy, clean and SIMPLE to keep you feeling fit while you go about the business of enjoying another shiny new year: my Pasta with Tunisian Spices.
This is an easy pasta for a weeknight, and it would be pretty great with couscous, but I had some pastina– really tiny, star-shaped pasta and I thought I’d use it up.
What I really love about this pasta sauce is that it is packed with vibrant, bold flavors: there’s coriander here and cumin and carom seeds (ajwain), and there’s the fiery burst of garlic and chilies from the Harissa (I almost always have this paste on hand because it’s such a great flavor booster for curries and stews).
For some extra bite in the pasta and texture, I added some mushrooms. For more nutrition, I added chopped greens. And for protein, I added some rotund, creamy chickpeas. It was, hmm, pretty perfect.
Before I share the recipe, I want to thank all of you for sticking with me through 2014, and for coming along on this wonderfully mysterious ride that’s going to be 2015. Here at Holy Cow! you will continue to find the fresh, flavorful, healthy and above all EASY vegan recipes that I prefer personally (and know you do too!) not just as a working mom but also as a non-superwoman who needs (and likes) a breather every now and then. As for resolutions, I don’t have any this year except to lose weight– a perennial favorite, I would guess, for anyone who loves to eat as much as I do.
And I have a similar resolution, too, for my beloved Opie who will be 13 this year, and is valiantly carrying on despite severe arthritis. Opie is hypothyroid and has a tendency to gain weight and while putting him on a homemade diet has helped, he could still stand to lose a couple of pounds. Of course, he still manages to look perfect. See for yourself.
Right now, as I write this post, he is sitting next to me on the bed, looking out of the window for anyone– animal or human–he can call out to in his authoritative voice.
And he specifically wanted to say this to you: May your new year be filled with more treats than your tummy can handle.
Happy new year, all!
Pasta with Tunisian Spices
Ingredients
- 14 ounces of a tiny pasta like orzo or pastina
- 2 cups dried chickpeas, soaked overnight and cooked until tender (substitute with 5-6 cups of canned chickpeas)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 heaping tbsp minced garlic
- 1 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 5 cups leafy greens like spinach or swiss chard or a mix
- 1 large onion, minced
- 1 large tomato, minced
- 3 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp carom seeds
- 2 tsp coriander seeds
- 2 heaping tbsp Harissa paste (see notes below for recipe)
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta per package directions. Drain.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil and add the onions and garlic
- Add a pinch of salt and ground black pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are softened.
- Add the mushrooms, tomatoes and leafy greens along with all powdered spices.
- Stir, until the mushrooms turn softer and the greens wilt.
- Add the cooked pasta, chickpeas and harissa to the pot. Stir everything well together to mix. Add salt to taste.
- If desired, garnish with some chopped, fresh greens for freshness and texture.
- Serve hot or cold.
Recipe Notes
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A slightly late (I know, I’ve been a bit slow with posting) thank you to the lovely Perri of the blog, Vegan When Sober, who featured an interview with me a couple of weeks back. Head on to her blog, not so much to read more about me but to nosh on some of Perri’s amazing vegan treats like Potato-less Mashed Potatoes and No-Bake Chocolate Hemp Truffles. Yum. I could stay forever.
Have you tried Tramadol for Opie? It is a good pain reliever (much safer than Rimadyl) and because it’s a human med, you can get your dr. to prescribe it for you and get it on your insurance. I have found it very helpful for my seniors, all of whom are large and all of whom have arthritic/orthopedic problems. Ask your vet about it. I know you are a holistic fan and i like natural meds as well, whenever possible–but when it comes to pain in my seniors, i don’t mess around. My father was an MD and I say, give me medication that works, not stuff that makes me feel touchy-feely.
Hi Candace, yes, Opie’s been on Tramadol for several years now– he has had arthritis since he turned four. We chose to go with Tramadol because it’s non-steroidal with fewer side effects. He also gets acupuncture every month and I supplement his diet with glucosamine, turmeric, boswellia and he gets shots of Adequan (very helpful). His acupuncturist tried some Chinese herbs which didn’t really work for him, so he’s now finally on Rimadyl to ease the pain, despite my reservations and worries. His vet checks his bloodwork regularly to be sure his kidneys are not suffering from the Rimadyl. But at this point keeping him as free of pain as possible is the chief priority.
Wishing You and Your Family a Very Happy New Year Vaishali :)…..that is such a cute picture of Opie. Very new and interesting pasta recipe, I love these kinds of pasta dishes where you add some heat and spices, planning to make this with some alphabet pasta…take care.
Thanks, Gita, it’s a good one for kids. Jay who is really averse to anything that’s not dal-rice ate this pretty happily, perhaps because of the flavors that are similar to Indian foods. Hope you try it!
Hi Vaishali,
Happy New year to you and everyone in the family! A big thank you for guiding me towards Veganism and making my life better.Thank you for all the lovely recipes.Looking forward to more exciting recipes in the coming year.:)
regards,geetha.
Dear Geetha, thanks for your kind words, and congratulations to you on moving toward veganism. I am so glad the blog has been of some help. Wishing you a very lovely new year, and hugs. 🙂
Happy New Year! This dish looks amazing! I will have to make it this week, as I have also been wondering what to do with a packet of pastini (so far it has been added to soups for those nasty colds my dear family members get this time of year). Carom is a new spice for me, so I am excited to add yet another addition to my already bursting herb drawer.
As for your trusty companion, I too have my sweet dog at my feet. Unfortunately, her eyesight is failing her, so now I am her guardian as she has been mine for the last twelve years.
Hi Lisa, Happy new year! Carom has an amazingly unique and bold flavor, so definitely worth trying. Your dog sounds adorable– a big hug to her!
Happy New Year! Thanks for the great easy plant-based recipes with the flavors that I love so much..
Thanks for your kind words, Leanne. Happy new year! 🙂